Talk:Second Amendment to the United States Constitution/Archive 9

Link to Parker v DC
The link at 7 has 'Parker v DC' but the third paragraph has 'DC v Heller'. The Parker v DC article has been renamed DC v Heller, but the sidebar in the other article has info on Shelly Parker, et al. v. District of Columbia and Adrian M. Fenty, which was decided March 9, 2007. This makes it confusing. Perhaps everything could be made to match.

The appropriate part of the other article is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbia_v._Heller#Supreme_Court_review

--Sln3412 (talk) 15:07, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Text portion of article
There must be some question as to why the House and Senate passed a seemingly more open to interpretation version with commas, but what appears to be a plainer (more direct) version without commas is what the states actually ratified. Might have there been a reason behind it? In any case, perhaps the commas section could be referenced.

--Sln3412 (talk) 15:25, 12 March 2008 (UTC)


 * I think the issue of the meaning of the sentence structure is well covered here: Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.  Recently, there is interesting commentary about this topic written here(see bottom of pg 5).  SaltyBoatr (talk) 15:51, 12 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Yes, but certainly separating phrases with commas make it less clear, well, at least to us. It seems back then it just didn't matter which way perhaps, or sloppiness, as it seems with the transcriber changing the semicolon to a comma on Auguest 25th.


 * But see the Creation: Confilct and Compromise section in this article, it has only one comma in both the House and Senate versions, with different wording. It says the version that came from the Senate was "A well regulated militia being the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." and the one from the House ending up "A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."   ^ Journal of the House of Representatives of the United States, Volume 1: pp. 305 has it with one comma.  I don't see one with multiple commas in there, so perhaps the references are a bit off.  It certainly looks like "Article the fourth" has 2 more commas in it. But shouldn't we refer to what was ratified and in the journal?  Anyway, just mentioning it.  --Sln3412 (talk) 16:21, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Impasse
It appears that SaltyBoatr has a very rigid view of what should be the content of the article. Either SaltyBoatr has to be blocked (unlikely), or we have to let him own this article (unlikely). Gentlemen, welcome to the world of the impasse. --SMP0328. (talk) 20:58, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Well, at least there is one thing we agree about: We are at an impasse. SaltyBoatr (talk) 22:17, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Actually, we probably can find a compromise. The origin of the dispute is this diff, and that is probably the best place to look at what can be adjusted.  Presently, it seems, that three editors are solidly opposed to any easement on that diff.  Is there no room to compromise with that diff? Or, are you three totally unwilling to give an inch on that?   SaltyBoatr (talk) 22:43, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Seriously, that is almost 1,500 words, and you guys cannot compromise even a single word? And, you blame me for an impasse.  You cannot compromise even a single word of that giant text insertion.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 22:53, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Looks like we have a consensus, then, what with 3 editors wanting the cited content to remain, and only 1 editor wanting to remove any traces of "individual" rights from the article. Consensus does not require agreement, only that everyone can live with the outcome.  SaltyBoatr, can you live with the outcome of leaving this edit, and additionally adding any necessary "collective" rights or other modern interpretations (using contextualism, or whatever) to balance the article?  If so, then the impasse is over, mediation is not needed, and editing can resume to improve the article, to address the various concerns all of us as editors have.  (In my case, this would immediately be correcting punctuation per MoS, and fixing the cite for footnote 26, for an edit that largely dates from April 2005 and which was made by another editor.)  Yaf (talk) 22:58, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Huh? Rather, I strongly oppose the removal of "any traces of 'individual' rights from the article".  Stop fighting a straw man.  I just want a neutral POV balance.  And, the editorial interpretation of the Noah Webster quote has a WP:NOR violation which need to be fixed.    Plus, the Noah Webster passage is part of the undue weight problem where the article has too much material that relies upon the theory of Original intent.  That must be brought back into balance through the removal of the excess.  I am flexible as how this should be done exactly, but I insist on a better balance.  I fear this won't be easy to negotiate, and a mediator could be extremely helpful.  (If we are lucky enough to find one who is willing to help us.)  SaltyBoatr (talk) 01:24, 6 March 2008 (UTC)


 * actually, it appears that saltyboatr is claiming that his objection is simply to the length of that diff, because it is "1,500 words", and asks whether 'you guys cannot compromise on even a single word?'. okay. so, if the material were condensed - made more terse, and reduced to 1,000 words, that should be a reasonable compromise, based upon this claim that you'd like the material shortened, yes? can you live with that, yaf and saltyboatr? simply make the segment more terse and to the point, and try to bring the text down in size by one-third? Anastrophe (talk) 23:13, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * If SaltyBoatr's only objection is the length of the article, then a consensus can easily be reached. The problem I see is that SaltyBoatr has made many objections unrelated to the length of the article. If a consensus is reached regarding the length of the article, would SaltyBoatr agree to drop his other objections? If not, then I reiterate my belief that we are at an impasse. --SMP0328. (talk) 00:31, 6 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Anastrophe, yes, making it more terse would definitely be progress towards resolution of the POV dispute. Consistently, my complaint has been the issue of the balance point of the POV, and reducing the amount of originalist material is what is needed to bring this back to a neutral balance point.  I never have held that all of the originalist material must be excluded.  (Indeed, I would object to removing all of the originalist material because that would be a POV violation in the opposite direction.)  I just want POV balance.    And, SMP0328, yes I can compromise on any and all issues which are up to editorial discretion.  Though, none of us have the liberty to violate the non-negotiable aspects of WP:Policy.  Lets start this process of compromise.  I am relieved to see some movement that the entire Yaf text insertion is not set in stone, an all or nothing proposition, but rather can be negotiable.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 01:15, 6 March 2008 (UTC)


 * yaf, can you please take the existing 'states' section, and attempt to trim it for length down to 1,000 words or less, and post the abbreviated version here? if we can get all parties to agree to a more terse version of that section, perhaps the article can be unlocked and we can move forward. Anastrophe (talk) 02:21, 6 March 2008 (UTC)

Sure. Let's start from the following shortened version:
 * "In Bliss v. Commonwealth (1822, KY), which evaluated the right to bear arms in defence of themselves and the state pursuant to Section 28 of the Second Constitution of Kentucky (1799), the right to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state was interpreted as an individual right, for the case of a concealed sword cane. As stated by the Kentucky High Court, 'But it should not be forgotten, that it is not only a part of the right that is secured by the constitution; it is the right entire and complete, as it existed at the adoption of the constitution; and if any portion of that right be impaired, immaterial how small the part may be, and immaterial the order of time at which it be done, it is equally forbidden by the constitution.' The 'constitution' mentioned in this quote refers to Kentucky's Constitution. As mentioned in this quotation 'as it existed at the adoption of the constitution' was the pre-existing right in force when Kentucky's First Constitution was drawn in 1799."


 * "The case prompted outrage in the Kentucky House, all the while recognizing that Section 23 of the Second Constitution of Kentucky (1799), which stated 'That the right of the citizens to bear arms in defence of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.' did guarantee individuals the right to bear arms."


 * "The result was that the law of the Commonwealth of Kentucky was eventually over-turned by constitutional amendment with Section 26 in Kentucky's Third Constitution (1850) banning the future carrying of concealed weapons, while still asserting that the bearing of arms in defense of themselves and the state was an individual and collective right in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This recognition, has remained to the present day in the Commonwealth of Kentucky's Fourth Constitution enacted in 1891, in Section 1, Article 7, that guarantees 'The right to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the State, subject to the power of the General Assembly to enact laws to prevent persons from carrying concealed weapons.' As noted in the Northern Kentucky Law Review Second Amendment Symposium: Rights in Conflict in the 1980’s, vol. 10, no. 1, 1982, p. 155, 'The first state court decision resulting from the 'right to bear arms' issue was Bliss v. Commonwealth. The court held that 'the right of citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State must be preserved entire, . . .' This holding was unique because it stated that the right to bear arms is absolute and unqualified. In contrast to this, all states currently regulate the possession and use of firearms to some extent.'"


 * "In contrast, in State v. Buzzard (1842, Ark), the Arkansas high court adopted a militia-based reading of the right to bear arms under state law, and upheld the 21st section of the second article of the Arkansas Constitution that declared, 'that the free white men of this State shall have a right to keep and bear arms for their common defense', while rejecting a challenge to a statute prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons. Buzzard had carried a concealed weapon and stood 'indicted by virtue of the authority of the 13th section of an act of the Legislature prohibiting any person wearing a pistol, dirk, large knife or sword-cane concealed as a weapon, unless upon a journey, under the penalties of fine and imprisonment.' The Arkansas high court further declared 'That the words 'a well regulated militia being necessary for the security of a free State', and the words 'common defense' clearly show the true intent and meaning of these Constitutions [i.e., Ark. and U.S.] and prove that it is a political and not an individual right, and, of course, that the State, in her legislative capacity, has the right to regulate and control it: This being the case, then the people, neither individually nor collectively, have the right to keep and bear arms.' Joel Prentiss Bishop’s influential Commentaries on the Law of Statutory Crimes (1873) took Buzzard's militia-based interpretation, a view that Bishop characterized as the “Arkansas doctrine', as the orthodox view of the right to bear arms in American law."


 * "Modern gun rights advocates have disputed this history, claiming that the individual right was the orthodox view of the right to bear arms under state law in the 19th century, citing the previously-mentioned Bliss v. Commonwealth, and even State v. Buzzard, which recognized the right of an individual to carry a weapon concealed, when upon a journey, in an affirmative defense. Since 1873, some legal and constitutional historians have sided with Bishop and not the individual rights model. Other legal and constitutional historians have sided with the individual rights model."


 * "In 1905, the Kansas Supreme Court in Salina v. Blaksley made the first collective right judicial interpretation. The Kansas high court declared: 'That the provision in question applies only to the right to bear arms as a member of the state militia, or some other military organization provided for by law, is also apparent from the second amendment to the federal Constitution, which says: 'A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.''"


 * The modern formulation of the debate over the Second Amendment as an individual/collective rights dichotomy entered Federal law and scholarship when it was employed in a widely-cited Harvard Law Review article in 1915 by the Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Court, Lucilius A. Emery. He noted that "the right guaranteed is not so much to the individual for his private quarrels or feuds as to the people collectively for the common defense against the common enemy, foreign or domestic."

This reduces the size, considerably, while still providing citations. Comments? -- Yaf (talk) 05:25, 7 March 2008 (UTC)


 * also, if condensing the section proves workable, and we get agreement, it may be worth revisiting many sections of the article and making them more terse. there's no question that the article is long, and just as 'brevity is the soul of wit' (and lingerie), it is also the soul of an accessible encyclopedia article. if what is said in a hundred words can be said in fifty, then the information can be shared with far more facility and impact by the latter. Anastrophe (talk) 02:32, 6 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Thanks, I appreciate your effort to compromise. The other section needing consolidation is the "Early Commentary" section which is heavily loaded with originalism, and which contributes to the POV imbalance even more than the recent "State courts" insertion.   Again, I view that we should leave in a significant amount of originalism, which is a significant POV, but presently orignialism is too heavily weighted causing a POV neutrality imbalance.   SaltyBoatr (talk) 03:05, 6 March 2008 (UTC)


 * The proposed edit is acceptable to me. Dare I dream that the impasse could be ended? --SMP0328. (talk) 07:26, 7 March 2008 (UTC)


 * I appreciate that we are discussing edits on the talk page. It would be a good faith gesture to remove the 'states court' passage from the article while we discuss this.  OK?  SaltyBoatr (talk) 18:06, 7 March 2008 (UTC)
 * Wikipedia policy is not to make any changes to protected articles unless they are trivial changes or unless consensus shifts to change it, even if it is the wrong version or the right version, until content disputes are resolved. The fact the article is blocked and has a  label is considered adequate warning to readers. OK? Yaf (talk) 19:03, 7 March 2008 (UTC)
 * You got that right, there is no consensus about good faith gestures here.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 19:09, 7 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Your proposed edit breaks into four sections. 1)Bliss, 2)Buzzard, 3)Salina and 4)Emery


 * Can we start with Bliss and then move on to the other three?

Bliss

 * Checking the referencing, I see six footnotes and three paragraphs:

First paragraph: The first footnote is pointing to the primary document, which OK, but is merely a convenience link and does nothing to meet the requirements of WP:NOR. The second footnote describes that this pertains to 'Kentucky', and I agree that sentence is cited, but this does nothing to give sourcing to the thesis of the rest of the passage. The third is entirely a statement of original research, and to this I object based on WP:NOR and ask that it be removed.

End of first paragraph, except for the 'pertains to Kentucky' sentence what is the secondary sourcing for the first paragraph?

Second paragraph: The fourth footnote in the second paragraph is pointing to the primary document, and seems to violate WP:NOR, I ask that the second paragraph be cited with a secondary source, or be removed.

Third paragraph: The third Bliss paragraph is the meat of it, and has two footnotes. The second footnote, is an editorial comment, plainly in violation of WP:NOR and should be removed. The first footnote is to a journal article, reprinted by Alan Gottlieb, a well known pro-gun partisan. Is this an accurate reproduction? Please confirm.

The key quote of the third paragraph is: "The first state court decision resulting from the "right to bear arms" issue ". I don't see that you have shown with reliable sourcing that "the right to bear arms" issue (in Kentucky) is the same as the topic of this article which is rather: the Second Amendment of the Federal Constitution. Your attempt to associate a Kentucky 'right to bear arms' with a federal 'right to bear arms' appears to be improper synthesis and therefore WP:OR. And more to the point. I see these two rights as obviously and totally different things. In any case, you have the burden to show that these two different rights are the same, and you have not done so yet using reliable sourcing. SaltyBoatr (talk) 18:06, 7 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Before making changes, lets consider what constitutes an acceptable source in this article's context. The reason I ask is that E. Kruschke in his book Gun Control, that I know you have previously used many times to cite gun politics issues on Wikipedia -- claiming it was a reliable source, mentions both Bliss and Buzzard as being the first two state cases regarding the Second Amendment, and categorizes them both as promoting an "individual rights" position, by reason he does not look beyond the initial lower state courts' decisions.  In Bliss this is OK, since the KY Supreme Court upheld the lower court's interpretation of the Second Amendment and upheld the decision.  However, in Buzzard, the AR Supreme Court overturned the lower court's decision, going from an "individual rights" position to a "collective rights" position in so doing.  Kruschke, however, doesn't address the final decision of the AR Supreme Court, and (erroneously, I would say) leaves readers the false impression that both cases were pure "individual rights" cases.  I could certainly make the necessary citation changes necessary for addressing many of your stated concerns using Kruschke's book as a reference, with properly cited citations, hence, it would be verifiable, it is a reference that you haved claimed is reliable but with which I have disagreed, but citing Kruschke here would make the (erroneous) case that both cases were pure "individual rights" interpretations of the Second Amendment.  Still, would this be an acceptable reference to use or not? Yaf (talk) 19:27, 7 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Not. You are improperly blurring five things:  'Gun politics', 'the right to bear arms in Arkansas', 'the right to bear arms in Kentucky', 'a federal right to bear arms' and 'The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution'.  If Kruschke reference something relative to 'gun politics' that does not automatically associate with 'The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution'.


 * There may be 'individual rights' or 'collective rights' in Kentucky, or in Arkansas, but that is totally irrelevant to the topic of this article.  I reject your original research, that a 'right to bear arms' is a universal, fluid, interchangeable thing.   Indeed, I reject your assumption that the term 'a right to bear arms' is synonymous with the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.   SaltyBoatr (talk) 19:54, 7 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Perhaps I was not clear. OK.  Let me try again.  Kruschke clearly states that both Bliss and Buzzard are state interpretations of the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.  No problems here.  This, properly cited, would fix some of the problems that you have mentioned.  Kruschke then goes on to state that Bliss further was an "individual rights" interpretation of the 2A.  Again, no problems here.  Kruschke then goes on to state that Buzzard was an individual rights interpretation of the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution.  There is a slight problem here; Buzzard was an "individual rights" interpretation only at the lower court level in AR.  However, upon reaching the AR Supreme Court, the individual rights interpretation of the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution was overturned, with the case then becoming the first state interpretation of the 2A that switched to a "militia-based", collective rights, interpretation of the 2A.  The blurring occurs from Kruschke being incorrect in summarizing Buzzard as being a pure individual rights interpretation of the 2A.  It was actually a mixed interpretation at the AR Supreme Court level, from virtue that it characterized the 2A as protecting a collective right, with an individual right only applying for the case of an "affirmative defense" when "upon a journey."  As for the "right to bear arms" wording, this was a phrasing that you had added a few years ago over my protests, but to which we had ultimately compromised.  My objection then was that the 2A protects a pre-existing right to bear arms, but does not, in and of itself, grant a "right to bear arms" or a right to "keep" arms.  However, this point of view is not universally held, hence we had compromised on the "right to bear arms" wording. A slightly different wording can be worked on this phrasing upon deciding on the appropriateness of select sources for citing facts in this paragraph.  Getting back to using Kruschke as a cite here; my fear is that, unless we are very, very careful, both Bliss and Buzzard will become "individual rights" interpretations of the 2A, which is a subtle POV push to the "gun rights" side.  I favor correctness over pushing any POV.  So, asking once again, would using Kruschke as a reliable source here be considered by you as an acceptable reference, in light of his getting Buzzard slightly incorrect? And, I agree with your assumption that the term 'a right to bear arms' is NOT synonymous with the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution.  (Rather, a right to bear arms is but one of the rights protected by the 2A. If anything, the right to keep and bear arms are but two of the unenumerated rights given by God that are recognized by the 9th Amendment, but lets keep on topic, and leave the 9th Amendment out of this discussion.  OK?)  Yaf (talk) 20:24, 7 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Which page(s) are you reading in the Kruschke book? And, can you please quote the exact passage you are reading?  SaltyBoatr (talk) 21:13, 7 March 2008 (UTC)


 * OK. I am not going to type all the pages that are applicable, but they are in Chapter 4, Legislation and Statistical Data, that "provides an annotated list of selected court cases" (p.125). "The courts have tended to hold that the right guaranteed in the Second Amendment and the clause stating that such a right shall not be infringed is applicable to Congress." (p.125)  It then starts a subsequent section titled "Some Cases Illustrating the Individual View" on p. 140, with the first case being Bliss v. Commonwealth, 12 Ky. (2 Litt.) 90 (1822).  The 8th paragraph down the page then contains, "The right existed at the adoption of the constitution; it had then no limits short of the moral power of the citizens to exercise it, and it in fact consisted in nothing else but in the liberty of the citizens to bear arms.  Diminish that liberty, therefore, and you necessarily restrain the right; ..." (p.140).  There is a lot of other discussion, but I won't type this content here.  Then, on page 141, "But it should not be forgotten, that it is not only a part of the right that is secured by the constitution; it is the right entire and complete, as it existed at the adoption of the constitution; and if any portion of that right be impaired, immaterial how small the part may be, and immaterial the order of time at which it be done, it is equally forbidden by the constitution."   The very next case is State v. Buzzard, which commences at the bottom of p. 141.  It starts with "Lacy J., dissenting.  Then, it goes on, stating: "The question now to be determined is, does this provision of the statute violate the second article of the amendments to the Constitution of the United States, or the 21st section of our Bill of Rights?  The language in both instruments is nearly similar: the two clauses are as follows:..." (pp. 141-142).  Then lots more detail. It ends with, "We derive this right from our Anglo-Saxon ancestors..."  But, as I stated earlier, Kruschke doesn't go on to summarize the high court's ruling on this case, and leaves the distinct impression that the case ended with the lower courts individual rights only rulings.  This is a problem in terms of absolute accuracy.  There are several other areas of pertinence through the book that can also be used to clean up several of the concerns that you believe exist regarding Bliss and Buzzard. Yaf (talk) 04:17, 8 March 2008 (UTC)


 * You are using a syllogism. You cite that Bliss pertains to a primal right to bear arms. You cite that the Second Amendment pertains to a primal right to bear arms. (No dispute from me.) You then make a illogical jump that Bliss pertains to the Second Amendment.  If A => C, and B => C does not proof A => B.   Keep your Bliss material in the Right to bear arms article. SaltyBoatr (talk) 16:19, 8 March 2008 (UTC)


 * The Second Amendment is what specifically protects, as you phrase it, the "primal right to bear arms." Actually, the 2A protects a God given right to keep and bear arms, but it certainly does protect a right to bear arms, too, as a subset of what it protects.  The infringement of these "primal rights" is what the 2A protects against.  (The rights are recognized by the 9th Amendment, being unenumerated rights, but I digress.) Bliss was about an attempt to infringe on this "primal" right to keep and bear arms, and this attempt was found lacking due to the 2A, in the first individual rights interpretation of the 2A in a judiciary setting.  It just happened to be at a state level, but it is in a section on state level commentary on the 2A, which predated Federal court discussions and decisions.  The Bliss material belongs in both this article, and in the Right to bear arms article because it was directly commenting on the 2A.  No syllogism here, just an honest individual rights interpretation of the 2A, which some find offensive or distasteful, albeit true. Yaf (talk) 18:19, 8 March 2008 (UTC)


 * You haven't satisfactorily cited your opinion. It also defies logic.  You claim "the first individual rights interpretation of the 2A in a judiciary setting".   On what jurisdictional grounds can a state court interpret federal law?  State courts interpret state law.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 22:18, 8 March 2008 (UTC)


 * State courts can interpret federal law and the U.S. Constitution. For example, read Michigan v. Long (1983). --SMP0328. (talk) 02:32, 9 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Your opinion looks like WP:OR. SaltyBoatr (talk) 04:13, 9 March 2008 (UTC)


 * You asked a question and I answered it. Now you claim my answer is invalid, because it's Original Research. You are truly unbelievable. State courts can interpret federal law and the U.S. Constitution. If my citing a Supreme Court decision is Original Research, and therefore invalid, then I guess a whole lot of articles need major editing. --SMP0328. (talk) 04:23, 9 March 2008 (UTC)


 * You point to a Federal Supreme court decision. How does that 'answer' anything?  At the best, I am supposed to read and interpret it to figure out an answer to the question of whether state courts have jurisdiction over federal law.  The 'reading and figuring' you did, and expect me to do, is WP:OR.  See also Jurisdiction.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 18:42, 9 March 2008 (UTC)


 * please stop conflating discussion on the talk page with content in article space. it is totally inappropriate to label as OR someone's comments on the talk page. if what the person wrote was a segment of copy intended for inclusion in the article space, then an OR label might be appropriate and useful. as it stands, calling a fellow editor's commentary OR is little more than the WP:SOUP behaviour that i have warned you about numerous times. it's a roadblock to discussion, and not at all helpful. please. stop. Anastrophe (talk) 19:08, 9 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Along the same line of thought, could you ease up with WP:SOUP personal commentary? You are falsely attacking my good intentions.  Over, and over, and over, starting here, and at least a dozen times since.  I object and take offense.    SaltyBoatr (talk) 20:44, 9 March 2008 (UTC)


 * i'll ease up on it when the behavior stops. i realize you may not find it pleasant, but if it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck....do you acknowledge the (utter) inappropriateness of slinging about claims that an editor is engaging in "OR" when discussing matters on a talk page? if not, there's not much hope that the characterization of WP:SOUP will go away any time soon. Anastrophe (talk) 21:06, 9 March 2008 (UTC)


 * that said, i'd be willing to refactor my commentary, and instead of asking you to stop WP:SOUP behaviour, rather request that you stop wikilawyering and being tendentious. Anastrophe (talk) 21:15, 9 March 2008 (UTC)


 * I have done very little 'behavior' which is contrary to WP:Policy. Specifically here, we are discussing whether the Bliss court state case is on topic in this federal article.  SMP0328 argued that because of the court case Michigan v. Long that State courts can interpret federal law and the U.S. Constitution, therefore the Bliss passage should be allowed to be included in the article.  I object that SMP0328 argument is based on WP:OR, his interpretation of the Michigan v. Long court case, (interpretation of a primary source).  Somehow you take offense at this, calling it WP:SOUP.  What did I do wrong?  Actually, your dogged attempts to refocus the discussion away from WP:Policy and onto my personal behavior is what is counterproductive here.  If you and I disagree much more about this, (both your behavior and mine), I am willing to seek the opinions of uninvolved editors over at WP:WQA.  What do you say?  SaltyBoatr (talk) 00:26, 10 March 2008 (UTC)


 * I wasn't interpreting that case. You claimed that state courts couldn't rule on federal law or the U.S. Constitution. I wanted to show you that wasn't the case. So I referred to a case that dealt with state supreme courts and when they interpret federal law or the U.S. Constitution. It isn't necessary for you to interpret the case. For our purposes, that case shows that state courts do sometimes interpret federal law, including the U.S. Constitution. --SMP0328. (talk) 00:47, 10 March 2008 (UTC)


 * OK then, even granting that it may have happened, does nothing to show that it does, or did. Foremost Bliss was directly interpreting Section 23 of that Kentucky State Consitution which says: "That the right of the citizens to bear arms in defence of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.".  The "defence of themselves" status with the Kentucky right and Bliss is not found in the US 2A right, and therefore is a syllogistic logic error in the context of this article.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 15:26, 10 March 2008 (UTC)


 * knock yourself out. wikilawyering is an abuse of policy. your methods are obstructionist and tendentious - you initiated the edit war on this article, then you requested the page be locked. that's WP:gaming the system, and a violation of the spirit of wikipedia's policies. i'm fed up with it. this article has been locked for weeks, pending your willingness to compromise - which you've shown precisely zero, as offers of compromise have been tendered, but each time you move the target so that agreement cannot be reached. you are holding this article hostage, interminably. enough. Anastrophe (talk) 03:46, 10 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Against policy? Look again at WP:WL.  Your assertion of WP:GAME amounts to an accusation of bad faith, which is offensive and wrong.  Anyway, can we resume work on the article instead of talking about me?  Where we left off, Yaf (I think), was working on his response, and a re-write, to the WP:RS questions I have posed about his "State courts" edit.  Yaf, any more progress on this?  SaltyBoatr (talk) 14:59, 10 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Seriously, when I read the Kruschke book a month ago, I don't remember it saying what you now claim it says. I have since returned it to my public library.  Let me try to ask this gently, but I question if you have actually read the Kruschke book which you are citing as your source.   SaltyBoatr (talk) 00:28, 8 March 2008 (UTC)


 * I own my own copy of this book, having bought a used university library copy for around $4 as I recall, having purchased it quite some time ago (including shipping!). It was a dropped holding by many college libraries, evidently around the same time, so there are lots of used, cheap copies around if you but look.  I never used it to cite any WP issues until after you started insisting that it was a "reliable source" and started using it as a reference.  I have read it 3 times, now, the 3rd time being just last month when we were discussing this book previously, but I should mention that I have spotted lots of small errors in the book over the 3 readings, and generally prefer not to use it to cite WP "facts".   Upon a first reading, incidentally, I missed lots of the details, and only pieced together the complete threads upon a second reading several months after the first reading. The 3rd reading really helped me understand the book better.  That said, I don't much like the "scholarship", as it is a bit disjointed, missing the differences in lower court case records vs. high court rulings, for example. Also, the NRA provided considerable historical evidence that seems to have only wound up in the definitions in the back of the book, and that contradicts some of the statements of fact that are contained in the first introductory parts of the book.  More messy scholarship. That said, there are times it does make some good points. It just gets hard to establish fact versus verifiable citations with this book; the truth is not always what Kruschke says in the first part of the book, but that he does get right around the middle of the book, and then again, near the end of the book. The editing leaves lots to be desired. Overall, the first part of the book seems to placate anti-gun POV pushers.  The middle through 3/4ths of the book then corrects the facts, for anyone with enough patience to actually wade through the book.  Messy, very messy. Yaf (talk) 04:17, 8 March 2008 (UTC)


 * You have had several chances and failed now. If you can't specifically quote a reliable source that clearly makes your claim "...that both Bliss and Buzzard are state interpretations of the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution", then I object to the inclusion of those paragraphs in the article.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 16:19, 8 March 2008 (UTC)


 * No failure, just laziness on my part in my not typing all the details in a lengthy discussion first, rather than in a draft of this section of the article. The question remains which you have not answered, do you consider Kruschke a reliable source, despite the shortcomings I have identified.  If so, then it will be easy to make the case.  But, before I spend all the time necessary to craft the wording to make the case, I want to know if you will accept Kruschke as a reliable source, or will you force all the work be done once again that is necessary to address your evolving "concerns", by denying acceptance of this book as a reliable source.  I (actually, I suspect, many editors) already know you object to the inclusion of any individual rights discussions, so your statement on this is redundant.  What is at issue here is whether or not Kruschke is a reliable source in your mind?  If so, then it will be easy to make a solid case.  If not, then I will have to select an alternative source, (there are many), and repeat the questions whether or not you will accept an alternative source.  Yaf (talk) 18:19, 8 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Per WP:RS reliable sourcing depends in part on context. So, I cannot immediately say.  If you can wait, I have sent away for that Kruschke book again to read your citation in full (I just made an interlibrary loan request, it takes about four days, they will ship the book to my local library).  Also, I am willing to accept the opinion of the reliable source noticeboard, who I recall have already said that a book by a university professor, published by a mainstream publisher is generally a WP:RS.  And, I do share your opinion that his writing style is disjointed at times.   I believe that you, (and perhaps also Kruschke), are guilty of a syllogism logic error.  Proving that (Bliss => RTKBA), and (The 2A => RTKBA) does not prove that (Bliss => The 2A).


 * Let me thank you again for engaging in talk discussion of this passage you seek to include in the article. SaltyBoatr (talk) 22:09, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

Buzzard
I see two paragraphs and three footnotes for the State v. Buzzard section. The first footnote is a convenience links to the primary source, and while that is OK, it does nothing to meet the requirements of WP:NOR. The second footnote may or may not be a published 'secondary source' but it only says "See the symposium in Chicago Kent Law Review 76 and the Fordham Law Review vol. 73". There are no page numbers given, and no indication of who is the author or which article is being cited. Symposium? In what context? The fourth footnote seems to be 'secondary sourcing' but when you click through, it points to a cryptic claim that seems to be describing the Arkansas right to bear arms, not the Federal Right to bear arms. In short, I am asking that you provide quotations from these secondary sources which back up your claim that Buzzard pertains to the federal 2A. When I check what you provided, I don't see it verified. SaltyBoatr (talk) 00:28, 8 March 2008 (UTC)


 * The use of primary sources does not violate WP:NOR. As for "see the symposium", this is merely a "see also" link for further scholarship, on volumes that had numerous discussions regarding this topic; this is not a cited source. So, there is not a problem mentioning this here.  Yaf (talk) 04:49, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Salina
I see one paragraph, and one footnote. The one footnote is a convenience link to the primary document. As such, this is plainly in violation of WP:V. SaltyBoatr (talk) 00:28, 8 March 2008 (UTC)


 * The source is valid; a convenience link does not violate WP:V. Yaf (talk) 04:44, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Emery
This one paragraph and one footnote pointing to a Harvard Law Review article solidly meets reliable source standards, and I find the second half to be acceptable. SaltyBoatr (talk) 00:28, 8 March 2008 (UTC)

I don't see that the claim made in the first half of the paragraph "The modern formulation of the debate over the Second Amendment as an individual/collective rights dichotomy entered Federal law and scholarship when..." is found in the source. What is the sourcing for the opening clause? If not adequately sourced, please remove it. SaltyBoatr (talk) 22:11, 8 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Every word need not be sourced. Is there some question on what is being said?  If so, then a  tag is appropriate until a cite is made. Yaf (talk) 04:46, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Re-write
Yaf, I am still interested in working on this. Could you please re-write your passage in compromise, taking into account my concerns? SaltyBoatr (talk) 17:53, 8 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Am planning on doing this, once we address what sources are acceptable to you. (Kruschke or ?) Yaf (talk) 18:20, 8 March 2008 (UTC)


 * As extraordinary claims required extraordinary sources, and ordinary claims do not, my answer is: It depends. Specifically cite your claims and your sources, (include page numbers please) and I will check the claim against the source and answer.  Answering a blanket question is tougher.  My impression is that Kruschke is nominally reliable, again, cite specifics please.      SaltyBoatr (talk) 15:36, 10 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Still a work in progress, but certainly worth discussing the progress while you wait for your copy of Kruschke to arrive via inter-library loan:


 * "In Bliss v. Commonwealth (1822, KY), which evaluated the right to bear arms in defence of themselves and the state pursuant to Section 28 of the Second Constitution of Kentucky (1799), the right to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state was interpreted as an individual right, for the case of a concealed sword cane. This case has been described as being “a statute prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons” that “was violative of the Second Amendment””.  As stated by the Kentucky High Court, 'But it should not be forgotten, that it is not only a part of the right that is secured by the constitution; it is the right entire and complete, as it existed at the adoption of the constitution; and if any portion of that right be impaired, immaterial how small the part may be, and immaterial the order of time at which it be done, it is equally forbidden by the constitution.' The 'constitution' mentioned in this quote refers to Kentucky's Constitution. As mentioned in this quotation 'as it existed at the adoption of the constitution' was the pre-existing right in force when Kentucky's First Constitution was drawn in 1799."


 * "The case prompted outrage in the Kentucky House, all the while recognizing that Section 23 of the Second Constitution of Kentucky (1799), which stated 'That the right of the citizens to bear arms in defence of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.' did guarantee individuals the right to bear arms."


 * "The result was that the law of the Commonwealth of Kentucky was eventually over-turned by constitutional amendment with Section 26 in Kentucky's Third Constitution (1850) banning the future carrying of concealed weapons, while still asserting that the bearing of arms in defense of themselves and the state was an individual and collective right in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This recognition, has remained to the present day in the Commonwealth of Kentucky's Fourth Constitution enacted in 1891, in Section 1, Article 7, that guarantees 'The right to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the State, subject to the power of the General Assembly to enact laws to prevent persons from carrying concealed weapons.' As noted in the Northern Kentucky Law Review Second Amendment Symposium: Rights in Conflict in the 1980’s, vol. 10, no. 1, 1982, p. 155, 'The first state court decision resulting from the 'right to bear arms' issue was Bliss v. Commonwealth. The court held that 'the right of citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State must be preserved entire, . . .' This holding was unique because it stated that the right to bear arms is absolute and unqualified. '"


 * "In contrast, in State v. Buzzard (1842, Ark), the Arkansas high court adopted a militia-based reading of the right to bear arms under state law, and upheld the 21st section of the second article of the Arkansas Constitution that declared, 'that the free white men of this State shall have a right to keep and bear arms for their common defense', while rejecting a challenge to a statute prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons. Buzzard had carried a concealed weapon and stood 'indicted by virtue of the authority of the 13th section of an act of the Legislature prohibiting any person wearing a pistol, dirk, large knife or sword-cane concealed as a weapon, unless upon a journey, under the penalties of fine and imprisonment.' The Arkansas high court further declared 'That the words 'a well regulated militia being necessary for the security of a free State', and the words 'common defense' clearly show the true intent and meaning of these Constitutions [i.e., Ark. and U.S.] and prove that it is a political and not an individual right, and, of course, that the State, in her legislative capacity, has the right to regulate and control it: This being the case, then the people, neither individually nor collectively, have the right to keep and bear arms.' Joel Prentiss Bishop’s influential Commentaries on the Law of Statutory Crimes (1873) took Buzzard's militia-based interpretation, a view that Bishop characterized as the “Arkansas doctrine', as the orthodox view of the right to bear arms in American law."


 * Modern gun rights advocates have disputed this history, claiming that the individual right was the orthodox view of the right to bear arms under state law in the 19th century, citing the previously-mentioned Bliss v. Commonwealth, and even State v. Buzzard, which recognized the right of an individual to carry a weapon concealed, when upon a journey, in an affirmative defense.  Similarly, political scientist Earl Kruschke has categorized both Bliss and Buzzard as being “cases illustrating the individual view.”  Since 1873, some legal and constitutional historians have sided with Bishop and not the individual rights model. Other legal and constitutional historians have sided with the individual rights model.


 * "In 1905, the Kansas Supreme Court in Salina v. Blaksley made the first collective right judicial interpretation. The Kansas high court declared: 'That the provision in question applies only to the right to bear arms as a member of the state militia, or some other military organization provided for by law, is also apparent from the second amendment to the federal Constitution, which says: 'A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.''"


 * The modern formulation of the debate over the Second Amendment as an individual/collective rights dichotomy entered Federal law and scholarship when it was employed in a widely-cited Harvard Law Review article in 1915 by the Chief Justice of the Maine Supreme Court, Lucilius A. Emery. He noted that "the right guaranteed is not so much to the individual for his private quarrels or feuds as to the people collectively for the common defense against the common enemy, foreign or domestic."


 * Comments? Yaf (talk) 04:39, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Bliss
And how does Bliss pertain to the 2A? I don't see that you are making that claim. Then, why put your passage in this article? (As an aside, if Bliss was really important to an 'individual' rights theory, I would have expected it to be prominent in the dozens of amicus briefs for Heller, and it is not.) Why is this passage so important that we should expend scarce space in this article? It already is covered throughly elsewhere in Wikipedia, can't we just link to it? SaltyBoatr (talk) 14:18, 12 March 2008 (UTC)
 * It has been described as being a case about “a statute prohibiting the carrying of concealed weapons” that “was violative of the Second Amendment””. The text and citation is listed. Because this was a critical interpretation of the meaning of the Second Amendment, and was the first such interpretation, it belongs here.  This is the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution article; hence, interpretations of it belong here.  As for why this case is not mentioned in the amicus brief in Heller Case, that is because this early case was concerned only with concealed weapons; no such CCW issue is before the SCOTUS in Heller, hence there is no reason for it to be mentioned.  Yaf (talk) 15:06, 12 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Previously, you argued that coverage of Bliss was vital here because the SCOTUS had granted cert for Heller case. Now you say that Bliss isn't important to the Heller case.  Which is it?  And, you spliced two quotes together from the 1967 Congressional hearing to make your point.  Can I read that full quote in context?  Is it available online, or can you give me an ISBN so I can seek out a printed copy?  Also, in the process of searching for your 1967 reference, I ran across this discussion of Bliss from the Drake Law Review:  "This decision (Bliss) has subsequently been severely criticized by other courts and its declaration that the right to bear arms is absolute has never been accepted by another court."  The Bliss decision is far out on the fringe, yet you want to feature it prominently.  This appears to violate WP:UNDUE.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 15:40, 12 March 2008 (UTC)


 * The concealed carry issues and perspectives associated with CCW raised with Bliss are not important for Heller, as Heller is not about CCW issues. No contradiction here.  The individual right interpretation of Bliss, however, is important for the historical perspective it provides in that individual right interpretations pre-existed the later "collective right" interpretation of the 2A and this historical fact is important for understanding Heller, as Heller is about the meaning of what is meant by an "individual right".  As for Bliss being criticized by some courts, yes it has been.  However, two states retain to this day the original Bliss interpretation of the 2A, permitting concealed carry without any permit being required, as a fundamental God-given right that is protected by the Second Amendment.  Calling the position of these two states "far out on the fringe"  is a gross oversimplification, to the extent that you advocate the removal of the original 2A interpretation to give WP:UNDUE weight to 48 states while additionally suppressing the interpretation remaining in two states that happens to agree with the original 2A interpretation. Yaf (talk) 16:25, 12 March 2008 (UTC)


 * I forgot to mention that the 90th Congress reference Hearings, reports and prints of the Anti-Crime Program First Session Ser. 1-3 are available at most any regional US library that holds US Government records in hardcopy form, which is most suitable for seeing the full context. That said, this statement is also available online in a snippet from a scan, but without the text in context, and is virtually impossible to find on Google Books without actually having access to the hardcopy, requiring a double-ended, complicated, specific phrase, search to find it. If you don't know the specific and exact phrase, you can't find it on Google Books. Yaf (talk) 16:44, 12 March 2008 (UTC)


 * And, of course, no ISBN applies, as 1967 pre-dates the issuance of ISBN numbers. Yaf (talk) 16:53, 12 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Thanks, I see that the snippet includes the clause "that point of view is virtually extinct". As, this boils down to a POV neutral balance dispute, might you be willing to include that neutralizing clause in your passage?  SaltyBoatr (talk) 17:06, 12 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Of course, if consensus is that we should go into this much detail. But, if we include "virtually extinct", then we probably should also mention and cite the two states that have retained this "virtually extinct" view regarding what they consider to be the "proper" interpretation of the Second Amendment.  States are sovereign, so differences among states do matter.  Fundamentally, though, it appears we are largely re-hashing Federalist versus  Anti-Federalist dogma.  The souls of Madison, Adams, Webster, Jefferson, et al, must surely be stirring :-) Yaf (talk) 17:20, 12 March 2008 (UTC)


 * The differences among the states do not matter, (to this article), which is about the federal 2A. SaltyBoatr (talk)


 * Perhaps this is something we may have common ground about. You mention that the issue of 'individual rights' needs new attention resulting now with Heller in the news. I can agree to that. I would prefer that the 'individual' issue be more directly addressed though. For instance, after reading the Heller amicus briefs I see that both sides agree to various degrees of the issue of 'individual rights'. The distinction rather is what type of 'individual rights'. With your Bliss passage you are focusing far too much on a very outlying type of individual right, the absolute individual right. All the pro-Heller briefs stop short of 'absolute' and advocate simply for an expansive individual right. And the remand-Heller briefs tend towards the 'limited individual right'. I think all the amicus briefs, pro and con, agree that reasonable federal regulations are allowed by the 2A. Therefore, I think a better approach (which might be a workable compromise between us), would be to refocus your 'states court' passage off of the state courts, and onto the differences within the 'individual rights' 2A definitions, giving accurate weight balance to the POVs. Basically, I object to the undue weight you are trying to bring to the 'absolute' version of individual right. SaltyBoatr (talk) 17:36, 12 March 2008 (UTC)

Bliss, second footnote
The second footnote to the Bliss section is making a somewhat extraordinary claim. Could you help please by identifying the person, or agency giving that testimony at that hearing? I have located a copy but it is not available by interlibrary transfer, and it would take several hours by car for me to go read it. Also, could you provide a bit more of the context of the quote you are citing? Who is speaking, and what was the question asked of the speaker. Also, who asked the question? Thank you in advance for your response. SaltyBoatr (talk) 03:41, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

discussion of Yaf's March 12th re-write
I now have the Kruschke's Gun Control book in hand. After a re-reading, and looking at the big picture, I ask what article are we writing? A broad article about the issues of 'gun control'? An article about the interpretations of types of rights to bear arms in each of the states versus the federal? No and no.

You make one cite from his book, from Chapter 4, which declares in the opening sentence "This chapter provides an annotated list of selected court cases relevant to the subject of the right to keep and bear arms...". (pg 125) I believe we all agree that "the right to keep and bear arms" is a much broader topic, and is not synonymous with the Second Amendment. So, the Kruschke book seems to meet WP:RS standards, but it does not answer the question as to why discussion of state court indictment and rulings about acts of state a legislature is relevant to the federal Second Amendment.

You place a very high focus on the Bliss case, which Kruschke describes (pg 140) as "(Bliss v. Commonwealth) was an indictment founded on the act of the legislature of this state (Kentucky)". Yet, the right to bear arms protected in Kentucky at that time was different than the federal. Kentucky: "The right to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the State". The federal 2A does not say "...defense of themselves...".

I object that this article about the 2A needs such a detailed and confusing coverage of protection of the Kentucky "in defense of themselves" type of right. That is obviously different than the federal right and is easily misleading and confusing. (And, I argue, causes a skew of the POV away from the neutral point.)

That is not to say that there are things here we cannot agree upon. I do agree, for instance, that the article could use a better coverage of the topic of types of 'individual rights', especially in the context of widely disparate uses of that term in the run-up to the Heller SCOTUS ruling. But long winded discussion of the history of concealed weapon law in various state courts is not the best way to approach this task. SaltyBoatr (talk) 15:37, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

edit request
Until this dispute is resolved, I ask that the tag be added back to the article. The tag was inappropiately removed 3 minutes prior to page protection by Adams10, with the edit summary "(rv: though it's disputed, there is NEVER going to be a concensus." It is also notable that Adams10 is a declared partisan in this NPOVdispute, but he has since not participated in any discussion to resolve the dispute.  The fact that a NPOV dispute exists was known even to Adams10 while removing the POV tag!  Thanks. SaltyBoatr (talk) 15:00, 29 February 2008 (UTC)
 * ❌ The presence of full protection should be more than enough warning that something is wrong with the article. Please read The Wrong Version for a light-hearted explanation of why the protecting admin did not modify the page (as mandated by WP:PPOL).  If you think the page protection was inappropriate, you should post on WP:RFP. Happy‑melon 15:18, 29 February 2008 (UTC)


 * furthermore, i formally object to the blanket use of the POV tag at the top of a long article. the POV tag should be applied to the section or sections the editor has a concern about. current use of the POV tag recently has been as a 'POV bomb' that gets dropped the minute this editor objects to a particular edit. it's a form of edit warring. Anastrophe (talk) 17:34, 29 February 2008 (UTC)


 * I agree, except in the cases where the POV issue is pervasive throughout the article. Like in this instance, there is disproportional use of the originalist hypothesis throughout the article causing a POV neutrality problem.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 18:03, 29 February 2008 (UTC)


 * um, no. you're ignoring that you've been dropping the POV tag like a bomb for individual changes to the article. a single edit does not make the entire article POV. reserve use of the tag for the specific sections you have a problem with. Anastrophe (talk) 18:43, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

I feel that it would add userfriendliness and ameliorate the length problem to have the actual text of the second amendment at the head of the article. 06:20 19 March 2008 —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.131.67.90 (talk) 10:19, 19 March 2008 (UTC)


 * i'm unclear how moving text would affect the length; be that as it may, there is no length issue, as has been established in the mediation. Anastrophe (talk) 15:40, 19 March 2008 (UTC)

Well-Regulated
I am told that in the language of the day, "well-regulated" simply meant "well-armed", perhaps with some linguistic relationship to military meanings of the word "regular". I can't find any mentions of this, which leads me to suspect it's just a myth. Can anyone confirm or deny? --Malimar (talk) 18:45, 12 March 2008 (UTC)


 * wikipedia isn't the best place to ask general questions of this nature. this article is locked to prevent editing, so nobody can add information relevant to your question, not that it would even be 'allowed' into the article without a horrendous fight. that said, yes, there's a fair bit of historical linguistic info that suggests that 'well regulated' simply meant 'well armed'. Anastrophe (talk) 22:58, 12 March 2008 (UTC)


 * well regulated can also mean "smoothly operating" or "well trained". The meaning as in the phrase "a well regulated engine runs smoothly".

4.156.252.148 (talk) 18:17, 14 March 2008 (UTC)

bot assisted archive?
Is anyone tech savvy enough, and willing to volunteer, to set up a bot assisted archiver, such as User:MiszaBot II, to help with the archiving task on this talk page? Also, does anybody that it is time to do an archive? SaltyBoatr (talk) 16:02, 14 March 2008 (UTC)


 * the couple of times i've proposed employing miszabot on talk pages i got a surprising amount of resistance - main claim being that none of the bots are very good at the archiving. i dunno. i don't know how to set it up, but i also have no objection to its use.Anastrophe (talk) 16:07, 14 March 2008 (UTC)


 * I have User:MiszaBot III on my user talk page. I have no objection to setting User:MiszaBot II up, provided there's a consensus it should be used.  &mdash; Arthur Rubin  (talk) 17:39, 14 March 2008 (UTC)


 * I have no objection to User:MiszaBot II being used, as long as it would function correctly. --SMP0328. (talk) 22:42, 14 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Added Mitzy. Archives anything older than 2 weeks. --2ndAmendment (talk) 04:34, 19 March 2008 (UTC)

Original version
If the original only has one comma, then what's the one in the picture? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.69.118.1 (talk) 21:44, 20 March 2008 (UTC)


 * That picture is of the Bill of Rights as passed by the Congress. See the text section of the article for the wording and punctuation of that version of the Second Amendment. --SMP0328. (talk) 23:39, 20 March 2008 (UTC)

Bad Reference in origin section
Footnote 26, dealing with the Noah Webster quote "...force superior..." is mis-attributed to Federalist #46, which was by PUBLIUS and not by Noah Webster. The correct reference should be to Noah Webster, changing the reference from Federalist #46 to: ""

This applies to the following, only:"'Another source of power in government is a military force. But this, to be efficient, must be superior to any force that exists among the people, or which they can command; for otherwise this force would be annihilated, on the first exercise of acts of oppression. Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States.[26]'"

Thanks. Yaf (talk) 02:57, 6 April 2008 (UTC)


 * ❌ Looks uncontroversial, but can I ask you to stick it in a citation template please? Happy‑melon 14:07, 6 April 2008 (UTC)


 * Sure.

Thanks. Yaf (talk) 21:00, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

Actually, the issue of undue weight and reliance on originalism, like this quote from Noah Webster is part of the ongoing mediation. SaltyBoatr (talk) 16:02, 6 April 2008 (UTC)


 * So, if you agree that this quote is by Noah Webster (and it is), then why do you insist on mis-attributing it to PUBLIUS? The goal is to have an accurate encyclopedia.  Yaf (talk) 14:58, 8 April 2008 (UTC)


 * it is a misattributed quote. fixing a misattribution, regardless of your concerns, is not a matter of dispute, it is a matter of accuracy. Anastrophe (talk) 17:26, 6 April 2008 (UTC)


 * It is a quote of a founding father, use of the POV theory Originalism. The excessive use of originialism is part of the ongoing mediation.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 14:03, 8 April 2008 (UTC)


 * That is a different issue than preserving accuracy in the article. The correction needs to be made for accuracy.  Yaf (talk) 14:58, 8 April 2008 (UTC)


 * There is another reasonable option, which is to move that section to the talk page until resolution of the mediation. Readers will know to look to the talk page to get information due to the page protection banner.  Nothing is lost.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 15:20, 8 April 2008 (UTC)
 * ✅ The presence or absence of the section in the article may be a matter for dispute, but the need to ensure that what content is there is reliably and accurately cited is beyond question. Happy‑melon 11:41, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

Yaf, have you actually read that book? I see that it is a very rare book. I tried to find a copy and discovered it is not available in any of the libraries in my local county-wide library system. I am guessing that you have only read the table of contents, which is readable online at the author's pro-gun website. Is David E. Young a reliable source? Is the publisher Golden Oak Books of good reputation? This book appears to be a vanity press book. A Google search finds very little about this publisher which is located in the author's house in a tiny town on the Michigan Upper Penninsula. SaltyBoatr (talk) 15:39, 9 April 2008 (UTC)


 * Will you please stop the personal attacks? Yes, I own a copy of the book, and yes, I have read the book.  It is a thick book, with a blue cover; I own the paperback version.  (There are two ISBN numbers, depending on which version of the 2nd Edition it is that one refers to.)  It is not a rare book, but is in print.   I own a copy of the second edition.  David E. Young is a reputable source.  It is not a vanity press book, but it is a scholarly work that is not often found in other than college libraries and law school libraries.  If you are looking for a copy in the local elementary school or high school library, then, yes, you will have problems finding a copy.  Your tendentious, disruptive attitude needs to stop, or else administrator action to prevent further disruption needs to occur.  The book has even been used in several of the briefs to the Supreme Court of the United States in Heller/Parker, and is very well respected in the legal community as being a significant historical resource book on the Second Amendment.  Your POV pushing and continuous disruption needs to stop.  Yaf (talk) 16:00, 9 April 2008 (UTC)


 * I made no personal attack. One editor challenging another editor about their sourcing is appropriate.  It also would be appropriate if you answered my questions instead of threatening me with administrative action.  Would you address my question as to whether Golden Oaks Books is a reputable publisher?  It appears to have only published books by the author David E. Young, and that publishing company appears to be located in the same house in which that author lives.  One address is on the corner of Michigan and Houghton St.  And the other on the corner of Houghton and Michigan St..    SaltyBoatr (talk) 16:25, 9 April 2008 (UTC)


 * you've determined these are homes how? it appears to be a light-commercial area to me. furthermore, if a book was used in briefs for Heller/Parker, i think that trumps any "concerns" you have about the quality of the source. crap usually isn't presented to the supreme court. Anastrophe (talk) 16:46, 9 April 2008 (UTC)


 * Implying scholarly impropriety ("Yaf, have you actually read that book? ") is certainly a personal attack, unrelated to questioning the veracity of the source. As for the veracity of the source, here is an amicus brief that uses this book as an authoritative source.   If the book is worthy for inclusion into an amicus brief (from associates of the legal team of Mayor Fenty of D.C., no less) to the Supreme Court of the United States, under a list of authoritative sources relative to the Second Amendment in the first directly applicable Second Amendment case to hit the high court since 1939, then the book is certainly considered reliable.  The book/quote is also certainly verifiable.  The continuous tendentious, disruptive, and personal attacking attitudes need to stop. Yaf (talk) 16:55, 9 April 2008 (UTC)


 * Would you answer my question about the publisher? By the way, your evidence that you have read the book: 'blue cover', thick book, second edition, two ISBN numbers is all information available from the author's website.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 17:35, 9 April 2008 (UTC)


 * Careful SaltyBoatr, you are coming very close to calling Yaf a liar. What makes you so sure that Yaf does not possess a copy of that book? --SMP0328. (talk) 18:48, 9 April 2008 (UTC)


 * Don't put words in my mouth. I asked if Yaf owned a copy, and he answered that yes he did; and offered evidence by using information easily available from the author's website.  Feel free to reach your own conclusion as to whether Yaf is telling the truth.  I don't know enough to be sure either way.   I still would like to hear discussion about whether a publishing company, whcih seems to have only published four books, all by one author and which seems to share the same location as the residence of that same author is considered a reliable soruce per WP:V policy.  I don't think it even comes close to meeting our policy standard for reliable sourcing.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 19:42, 9 April 2008 (UTC)


 * Well, it is nice to know that SaltyBoatr is trying to hold Wikipedia to a higher standard than the text of the Emerson decision, where the book is cited 99 times by my count, plus is mentioned once more in an Appendix overview. Granted, this is original research on my part, counting the number of times that "Young" is referenced with a global regular expression search, but it is still obvious that the book is held in rather high esteem among legal professionals in the Federal judiciary. That should suffice to prove it is a reliable source.  Incidentally, can SaltyBoatr prove he even has a brain over the Internet?  At least with Young's book, I can quote meaningful content. :-)  Yaf (talk) 20:05, 9 April 2008 (UTC)
 * "Even has a brain"? Stop your insults.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 20:58, 9 April 2008 (UTC)

Footnote Correction
Once protection is lifted, this footnote correction needs to be done. Yaf (talk) 15:27, 2 April 2008 (UTC)


 * A WP:NPOV problem, due to excess usage of originalism, remains with that footnoted passage: "One example given by Webster of a "power" that the people could resist was that of a standing army:", an editorial conclusion which violates WP:SYN and because the footnote relies on a primary document, WP:PSTS.     SaltyBoatr (talk) 16:35, 2 April 2008 (UTC)
 * There are no WP:SYN issues in making this claim, as that is what was said by Webster. As for primary sources, they are perfectly acceptable for Wikipedia in a case such as this, where it is simply a quote and can easily be verified by a reader.  In short, there is no problem with correcting this footnote, other than WP:OWN issues. Yaf (talk) 17:27, 2 April 2008 (UTC)

(Correcting a bad reference shouldn't be considered a POV dispute, but if it is, this can wait.) Yaf (talk) 16:37, 5 March 2008 (UTC)

Footnote 26, dealing with the Noah Webster quote "...force superior..." is mis-attributed to Federalist #46, which was by PUBLIUS and not by Noah Webster. The correct reference should be to Noah Webster, changing the reference from Federalist #46 to: ""

This applies to the following, only:"'Another source of power in government is a military force. But this, to be efficient, must be superior to any force that exists among the people, or which they can command; for otherwise this force would be annihilated, on the first exercise of acts of oppression. Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States.[26]'"

Thanks. Yaf (talk) 05:50, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Isn't pointing directly to a 1787 document (regardless if you point to the reprint) the same a pointing to a primary source? Unfortunately, you still persist in working on your originalist theory material in the article. Wouldn't it be better to engage in a discussion about the effect on POV balance caused by disproportionate use of originalist theory material in the article? In short, I rather request that the offending passage just be removed (or relocated to a sandbox), pending resolution of the POV discussion and dispute.   SaltyBoatr (talk) 16:22, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Please answer.


 * nothing in that usage in the article violates PSTS. what is your point? Anastrophe (talk) 18:46, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * A direct quote of Noah Webster in 1787 is use of a primary source. SaltyBoatr (talk) 19:13, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * quite correct. what is your point? you seem to be under the mistaken impression that primary sources are prohibited. they are not. the usage in the article makes no synthesis or other OR. it merely describes the plain english text. that's entirely legitimate usage of a primary source. please stop bringing up red herring arguments to forestall progress on this article. Anastrophe (talk) 19:42, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * See the prelude clause just prior to the footnote 26 quote, "One example given by Webster of a "power" that the people could resist was that of a standing army:" This is interpretive of the primary source, in violation of WP:NOR, and is using the theory of originalism contributing to the POV neutrality imbalance.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 20:50, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Yaf, how can I be more clear? I am questioning POV balance caused by the heavy reliance on quotes from the founding fathers, which serve to advance the POV theory that the intent of the originators of the Second Amendment should be give an extra heavy weight.  Yes, you are attempting to correct a 'bad reference', but the coincidence is remarkable.  Repeatedly, you are focusing on your 'originalist theory' references.  Instead, lets discuss and resolve our dispute.  A good faith gesture would be to relocate the excess of 'originalist theory' material from the article to achieve POV balance.  With such a compromise, our dispute could be resolved today, and the protection block lifted immediately.    SaltyBoatr (talk) 16:58, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * saltyboatr, how can the other editors of this article be more clear? you are attempting to foist your contemporary views of the meaning of the second amendment upon the historical background of the amendment, essentially attempting to rewrite history (by insisting it not be acknowledged) in order to cram your particular POV onto the article. you are holding this article hostage, and violating - if not the letter - the spirit of consensus, by trying to WP:OWN any content changes within the article. your suggestion that the history of the second amendment be culled from this article because you consider it POV is specifically and clearly disrecommended by policy, as a "POV fork". there is no "compromise" at work in your efforts here - what you call "compromise" constitutes you making demands to which other editors must accede. Anastrophe (talk) 17:32, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Enough of the personal attacks, please, SaltyBoatr. This quote was put into the article 3 years ago.  And, it wasn't put there by me.  Hence, this is not my "originalist theory" footnote that needs a citation correction, but rather what needs correcting are WP:OWN issues that seem to exist regarding this article.  No one editor owns this article.  No editor has the right to keep this article in perpetual lock down through initiating an edit war each and every time it comes out of lock down.  For example, in your recent revert edit warring that caused a lock down, you  reverted a punctuation change I had made per the MoS, that should have been no problem.   But, it apparently didn't appear I was editing in good faith in correcting this "hallowed" punctuation. The dispute could be resolved today for sure, provided that ownership of the article was relinquished to the Wikipedia Community at large, to permit constructive edits to take place by all editors, instead of only one editor.   Yaf (talk) 17:37, 5 March 2008 (UTC)

I get it that you just want me to go away. Rather, can we find a compromise that solves the POV balance problem that I have identified? SaltyBoatr (talk) 17:47, 5 March 2008 (UTC)
 * I have worked at length to assume good faith, even carrying on a dialogue on this issue with you, while addressing another discussion into which you jumped.  It was in the course of that discussion that I realized the citation was incorrect on the present article, while verifying a reference, and so I identified it for correction using  procedures here. But, your "ownership" of the article precluded this.  It is impossible to re-write history to solve a perceived POV balance problem, through ignoring history, ignoring references, ignoring citations, ignoring quotations, and the like.  No compromise can re-write history, or delete history, through either using "newspeak" or other 1984'ish techniques. An historical topic deserves historical cites and references.  It is neither fitting or proper to attempt to rewrite an article on the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution starting only around, say, 1994, while ignoring the history from the 18th Century until 1994, to address perceived POV problems that do not exist outside one editor's mind.  It would be equivalent to rewriting an article on Slavery over the centuries, say, while deleting any mention of the historical practice in the United States, for example, and focusing only on Somalia, which is the only country that permits slavery today, because the mentioning of slavery in the US is a POV that one editor could not tolerate, the historical facts be damned.  The use of historical facts is entirely permitted and encouraged with proper citations, provided mainstream sources are used.  Wikipedia is not censored.  Attempting to censor history is not permitted either.  All that said, it is still entirely proper for you to add additional material supporting "collective" right viewpoints that are more modern, with proper cites, of course, when the article is unlocked.  If this is not possible, then seeing a disruptive editor go away would certainly be preferable to continuing to watch one editor hold an article hostage ad infinitum. Yaf (talk) 18:37, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * actually, you have not identified a POV imbalance. you have claimed a POV imbalance by saying that "most" of the article is weighted towards a pro-gun POV, but that doesn't constitute identification - merely one editor's opinion. in the most recent edit that yaf made, which was to remove a fair bit of material, most of which was material that you would probably characterize as "pro gun", you reverted him, claiming it 'altered the pov balance'. so - again, you are holding the article hostage. any change to the article by any editor other than you is claimed to be a change to the POV balance, you revert twice, then request protection. you are gaming the system, and subverting the process. Anastrophe (talk) 17:54, 5 March 2008 (UTC)

Let's start by removing the 'state courts' section. It is already entirely duplicated verbatim elsewhere in Wikipedia. SaltyBoatr (talk) 18:36, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * let's start by you ceasing to make demands of what content will or will not exist within the article. let's start by you perhaps actually adding substance to the article, rather than acting as arbiter of all other editors work. Anastrophe (talk) 18:45, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Removing history is not going to change history. Removing this summary content would remove the basis for a reader to understand the present dichotomy that fills the courts regarding "individual" vs. "collective" rights regarding the 2A (Heller/Parker, et. al.). We owe it to readers that come to this article to learn more about the Second Amendment to explain in a summary what the key hot-topic terms mean, at a top level. As I have mentioned before, breaking out this top-level taxonomy down further is not appropriate, both from a reader confusion standpoint, and from a total filesize standpoint. But, rewriting history to remove the "individual" right history, while leaving only the "collective" right discussion in the Judiciary section, would not be NPOV. I do not favor this change for this reason. Yaf (talk) 18:49, 5 March 2008 (UTC)

I object to the 'originalist theory' that by giving weight to the words (intent) of the founders, that somehow this is to be given extra weight of importance. Not that I entirely object to a use of the reliance on originalism, but I object that disproportionate use of one constitutional interpretation method at the expense of others skews the appropriate POV balance, and therefore is in violation of WP:NPOV. The addition of Yaf's 'states court' section tipped the POV balance. SaltyBoatr (talk) 19:11, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * "disproportionate use of one constitutional interpretation method". if that is the case, then add counterbalancing discussion using another constitutional interpretation method. you are violating the letter and spirit of NPOV - NPOV is not an excuse to delete. whenever discussion comes back around to this point, you shift the target to "the article is too long". when an editor removes material, you claim that the POV balance has been changed (isn't that your stated intent?) and then have the article blocked to prevent other editors from making any substantive changes at all without your approval. this must stop. Anastrophe (talk) 19:42, 5 March 2008 (UTC)

This obvious solution to this impasse is to discuss, understand, negotiate and compromise. Are you willing? I am. SaltyBoatr (talk) 20:45, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * claiming willingness is different than showing willingness in action. you have shown no willingness to actually compromise. "remove all material i don't like, then we'll have a compromise" is the short version. the long version comprises the facts in evidence above and in the edit history, of your unwillingness to accept anything less. no other editors here have forbade you from adding material in support of your contention that there are other constitutional interpretation methods that are under-represented. you however have forbade any other editors here from making any edits to this article if they disagree with your personal opinion. that's not compromise, that's not cooperation, that's not consensus, and it's not collaboration. it is one editor gaming the system to own an article. it is unacceptably uncivil behavior. Anastrophe (talk) 22:00, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Your characterization of me is wrong, personal, and offensive. SaltyBoatr (talk) 22:19, 5 March 2008 (UTC)


 * But, I see, you do not claim it is inaccurate. Yaf (talk) 19:32, 6 March 2008 (UTC)


 * Wrong=inaccurate. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.18.130.88 (talk) 02:37, 20 March 2008 (UTC)

Bad Reference in Grammar Section
Contained within the "Grammar" section is an assertion that: "The significance of this grammar was certainly understood to the framers who were more schooled in Latin grammar than is common in modern times." While this assertion ought to have a reference, the reference listed does not support the assertion. Instead, the reference offers a quotation that pretends to have discovered the exact meaning of the Second Amendment ("The linguistically correct reading of this unique construction ... is ..."). This citation ought to be removed or moved to a section on subjective interpretations of the Second Amendment.

The following is a reference that actually supports the assertion that the "Founders" were classically trained:

Winterer, Caroline The Culture of Classicism: Ancient Greece and Rome in American Intellectual Life, 1780-1910. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. 2002. Page 25.

Sonof76 (talk) 14:07, 2 April 2008 (UTC)


 * To which passage on page 25 are you referring? SaltyBoatr (talk) 14:33, 2 April 2008 (UTC)


 * Mea Culpa; I had just caught the error myself. Page 18: paragraph beginning with "Just as ..."  Also, Page 21: paragraph beginning with "Knowledge of Greek and Roman classics ..." Thanks. Sonof76 (talk) 14:50, 2 April 2008 (UTC)


 * I agree that your reference is excellent. I would also point first to pages 1 and 2 of the introduction which describes that educated people of the founders era were extremely familiar with Latin grammar, and would certainly have understood the 2A being phrased with ablative absolute construction.
 * I support adding your footnote in place of the existing footnote 12;
 * Winterer, Caroline The Culture of Classicism: Ancient Greece and Rome in American Intellectual Life, 1780-1910. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. 2002. Pages 1-21.
 * The existing footnote 12 actually belongs at, and should be moved to, the end of the second sentence in that paragraph. SaltyBoatr (talk) 15:13, 2 April 2008 (UTC)


 * "The opening phrase is known to grammarians as an ablative absolute construction" There is no ablative absolute in English, only in Latin. The correct designation in English grammar is a nominative absolute. Dforaste (talk) 01:08, 24 April 2008 (UTC)

There are many corrections that need to be made to the article, but the article is currently in mediation and remains indefinitely protected until mediation is successful. I do not support making this change and not making another previously-identified bad reference change. That way, this can serve as incentive, too, to reach a resolution of the points under dispute in mediation sooner. Yaf (talk) 15:25, 2 April 2008 (UTC)
 * That's no reason not to fix the problems that can be fixed without mediation, without mediation. I've made this change. Happy‑melon 15:13, 5 April 2008 (UTC)


 * er, i'm unclear why you moved the reference. it belongs after sentence three, not sentence two. it does not support sentence two in any way. Anastrophe (talk) 18:51, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I agree with Anastrophe. Admin; Please flip the locations of footnote 12 and footnote 13. Thank you, in advance, for helping. SaltyBoatr (talk) 20:52, 5 April 2008 (UTC)
 * ✅ <b style="color:forestgreen;">Happy</b>‑<b style="color:darkorange;">melon</b> 14:06, 6 April 2008 (UTC)

Obligation of the feds to ARM the militia
Reference needs to be made as to the federal governments obligation to ARM the militia as specified in the body of the Constitution and how this is in direct contradiction to any and all laws that bar gun ownership to members of that group.

Article 1 Section 8 states

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia,

By US law the militia is composed of all able bodies males of military age. See US Code Title 10 Chapter 13.

It is my opinion that this law defines the composition of the militia in non state territories under the administration of the feds. The militia within the various states are state institutions and therefore state laws defining the militia would take precedence over federal law. 4.156.252.44 (talk) 17:06, 27 March 2008 (UTC)


 * How is what you are saying related to the Second Amendment? Do you believe that the Second Amendment in any way altered the affect of the Militia Clauses (Article I, Section 8, Clauses 15 & 16)? --SMP0328. (talk) 18:37, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

To some extent the Second Amendment CLARIFIED the militia clauses.

The Second Amendment has been used to defend the personal right to own arms and much of the arguments on this page are about that. That is not its PRIMARY purpose. As shown by its language, it's primary purpose was to make sure that the powers conferred to the feds by the states with respect to the militia was not abused or misconstrued to include the power to DISARM the militia.

The personal right to own arms is a right that flows from your right to DEFEND your life, liberty and property and not from a RESTRICTION placed on the federal government. Again, YOUR rights do not flow from THEIR restrictions. Their restrictions are to prevent THEM from infringing on YOUR rights and are NOT the source of them.

From its own language, the Second Amendment is PLAINLY a restriction placed on the Federal government barring it from DISARMING the various State militias. The clause reference above PLAINLY states that the federal government is OBLIGATED to ARM the various militias. Gun control laws impacting members of the militia are contrary to both those clauses. The militia is defined in US law as all able bodied males of military age.

The States continue to retain the power to wage defensive war (engage in war) as shown by language in the Constitution. The states passed on the power to initiate or DECLARE war to the feds. However they can WAGE it if attacked or in imminent dagger of such. The state armed forces used to wage war are the various militias. I hope that the concept of waging war with an unarmed militia strikes you as ludicrous. It does me!

the Constitution PLAINLY states

No State shall .... engage in War, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent Danger as will not admit of delay.

The Preamble of the Bills of Right PLAINLY states that it is composed of declarations and restrictions. The Second Amendment has both a declaration and a restriction.

referenced portion of the preamble follows

THE Conventions of a number of the States having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added:

the declaration and the restriction is PLAINLY evident

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

I hope from the above that you can now make the connection between the referenced section and the second amendment.

4.156.252.31 (talk) 16:47, 28 March 2008 (UTC)


 * During the oral argument in the Heller case, Justice Scalia brought up the idea that the reference to militias in the Second Amendment was, as you suggest, to guarantee that the States would always be armed and also suggested that the second part of the Second Amendment was for mandating how that was to be achieved (individual right to keep and bear arms). Effectively, Justice Scalia was suggesting that the "collective right" and "individual right" interpretations of the Second Amendment are two sides of the same coins. --SMP0328. (talk) 01:49, 29 March 2008 (UTC)
 * Nice to see that someone at the Supreme Court level is able to figure out that self defense can be exercised at both the individual and the group level. Most of the rest of us figure that out by kinder garden.

4.156.252.195 (talk) 14:14, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

Notation of the questioning of the wording of "the people"
It seems the only amendment that is questioned when it comes to the wording of "the people" or the punctuation is the Second amendment. Perhaps this should be noted.

Amendment 1 - Freedom of Religion, Press, Expression. Ratified 12/15/1791.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Amendment 2 - Right to Bear Arms. Ratified 12/15/1791.

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Amendment 4 - Search and Seizure. Ratified 12/15/1791.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Or perhaps it should be noted where the phrasing of "the right of the people" was questioned in the other amendments and the outcome of the questioning. --71.82.134.111 (talk) 18:43, 6 April 2008 (UTC)


 * This has been brought up in the Heller case. I'm sure "right of the people" will be mentioned in each opinion when that case is decided. --SMP0328. (talk) 17:25, 7 April 2008 (UTC)

Misunderstood in the opening part of the wiki is opinionated
Somehow, I feel that the opening paragraph, stating that the second amendment is among the most "misunderstood" amendments needs to be taken out. First of all, it is clearly opinionated as cited in citation number one. However, since Wikis I thought were supposed to be factual, it should be noted as an opinion and not stated factually. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.180.160.142 (talk) 01:55, 28 April 2008 (UTC)


 * Your right, but the article is fully protected. That means only an administrator can change the article. --SMP0328. (talk) 02:07, 28 April 2008 (UTC)


 * Actually, 'misunderstood' is well sourced, did you check the two footnotes? One points to www.guncite.com, (an American Bar Association statement).  The other to an article in the Brigham Young University Law Review.  And, just from common sense, could something that is well understood by all also be subject to such powerful disagreements?  SaltyBoatr (talk) 02:20, 28 April 2008 (UTC)


 * This is one source of two for the word "misunderstood" in the Introduction. The anon's argument appears to be that the sources are opinions, rather than facts. I think of them as sourced opinions, rather than conjecture. Maybe the Introduction should be edited to make that clearer. --SMP0328. (talk) 02:37, 28 April 2008 (UTC)

"Misunderstood" is inappropriate. Even the guncite.com source doesn't attempt to state such an opinion as undisputed fact. Many things are controversial without being in dispute. This is what happens when someone considers something to be "wrong," and I'm fairly certain that many partisans on either side consider themselves to be philosophically correct on the issue (even beyond what the true meaning or intent of the amendment might've been). 24.184.97.102 (talk) 18:45, 28 April 2008 (UTC)

I think the single word "misunderstood" has brevity which is helpful in the introduction. The full quote is "There is probably less agreement, more misinformation, and less understanding of the right to keep and bear arms than any other current controversial constitutional issue." ≈ "misunderstood". And, if anything needs to change, I argue that we need to include that there has been much disinformation too.   SaltyBoatr (talk) 20:01, 28 April 2008 (UTC)

Considering that the body of the Constitution states that the US Government is obligated to ARM the   militia and not to disarm it, I can only agree that the Amendment is misunderstood.

Especially by those supporting those disarmament actions. 4.156.252.52 (talk) 12:36, 30 April 2008 (UTC)


 * Misunderstood is an unhelpful word here. It implies there is some true, consensus understanding that is not correctly "understood" by many people, organizations, the public, etc. That is not the case here; the fundamental meaning of this amendment is still hotly debated by all authorities. There is as of yet no canonical "understanding" to be "misunderstood". - Merzbow (talk) 21:24, 30 April 2008 (UTC)


 * I think Merzbow has brought up a very good point. Since the source doesn't use the term "misuderstood," and also because of its implications, it should be reworded. --Hamitr (talk) 00:00, 1 May 2008 (UTC)


 * I went ahead and reworded that section of the lede, removing "misunderstood" (which is PoV) and did a little bit of copy-editing to clarify the prose.  Horologium  (talk) 11:24, 2 May 2008 (UTC)


 * The reworded version is definitely an improvement over the previous text. The new text follows the referenced citations more closely, thereby making it more neutral point of view.  Good edit!  Yaf (talk) 17:39, 2 May 2008 (UTC)

Bliss
Yaf just reverted with the edit summary "(rv; restoring balance with properly cited content)". Considering that Yaf has steadfastly evaded answering questions about his 1967 cite, it is not accurate to describe this as 'properly cited'. Yaf, please answer and please explain your revert. Thanks. SaltyBoatr (talk) 18:31, 2 May 2008 (UTC)
 * The source can be verified in context online here. The only interpretation involved in the cited statement is that Bliss has been recognized as being a case involving a statute that was deemed "violative of the Second Amendment", which is the only point of the reference, namely, Bliss, according to some sources, is an interpretation of the Second Amendment. The complete and voluminous Anti-Crime Program hearings from 1967 are not needed to verify the claim made in the article; the online quote is adequate to verify the context.  I have not evaded answering your questions; you have simply refused to accept that some sources believe that Bliss was about the Kentucky Constitution as well as the Second Amendment. The 1967 Hearing was only concerned with the Federal interpretation, and not with the state constitution interpretation. The current text clearly is balanced, showing that some believe it was about the 2A, whereas others believe it was not.  This is true balance.  Removing properly cited content is not presenting a balanced article.  Yaf (talk) 18:40, 2 May 2008 (UTC)


 * False. We can see no context in your link.  Neither can we see the answers to my questions in your link. Please answer my questions.   You have evaded this far too long.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 21:13, 2 May 2008 (UTC)

Yaf reverted again. Please answer the questions. SaltyBoatr (talk) 21:45, 2 May 2008 (UTC)


 * the report is available at many university and law libraries according to worldcat. Anastrophe (talk) 22:48, 2 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Have you read it? Has Yaf read it? SaltyBoatr (talk) 01:03, 3 May 2008 (UTC)


 * i have not read it. what makes you think i would know whether someone else has read it? have you read it? if not, why not? Anastrophe (talk) 19:36, 3 May 2008 (UTC)


 * I have already answered that question. If we are to cooperatively edit, and if Yaf has read this source he is using, it seems common courtesy for Yaf to answer these few simple questions about his sourcing.  Yaf does  have the burden of proof, (being the editor that wants to insert the material).  It speaks volumes to Anastrophe POV push that he only questions me whether I have read the source, but that he does not question his cohort.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 14:36, 4 May 2008 (UTC)


 * and it speaks volumes to your POV push that you have wikilawyered this minor point endlessly. a statement documented in a congressional report, which has been cited in amici to the supreme court, more than meets WP:V. that you don't like what that statement says is quite clear. oh lordy is it clear. it speaks volumes to your POV push that you refuse to accept this patently reliable source. Anastrophe (talk) 16:56, 4 May 2008 (UTC)


 * The reason this has taken so long is that my simple reasonable questions have been unanswered and evaded endlessly most recently here. My complaint is based on WP:V, and cannot be fairly dismissed as "wikilawyering".  SaltyBoatr (talk) 17:49, 4 May 2008 (UTC)

Article re-write/clean-up
Have finished a massive re-write and clean-up of the entire article, followed by removing the tagline. If there are any issues remaining, please put the tagline back and leave comments on the talkpage identifying the issue(s). Thanks. Yaf (talk) 19:13, 6 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Your edits, combined with my contributions (hope that doesn't sound egotistical), have given the article a nice flow and have made it easier for people to get to other sources of information. --SMP0328. (talk) 23:32, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

restoring POV tag
Have restored the POV tag. See above (and in talk archive) for my explanation given earlier. The biggest problem is the over-reliance on an originalist theory of constitutional law. Also, a general trend (made worse with the recent flurry of edits), towards an undue weight given to an individual gun rights point of view. SaltyBoatr (talk) 21:35, 12 May 2008 (UTC)

The above mentioned tag restoration has been reverted by Yaf. --SMP0328. (talk) 21:42, 12 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Reasons given prior to the massive rewrite are now very dated. If you haven't read it yet, please read the new article. The older concerns were largely addressed in the rewrite; the earlier collective/militia rights only version was heavily biased towards a collective/militia right only, and there clearly was a POV problem in that there was no significant individual rights content.  The current edit is more neutral, making some mention of an individual rights point of view (with documented cites, of course).  Wikipedia articles should contain content representing all major points of view, with appropriate cites, of course.  The article currently does do that. That said, you are free, as is any editor, to add cited  content addressing any concerns that you feel exist with the article.  However, censorship of major points of view simply because an editor "doesn't like it" is not in accordance with Wikipedia policies. All major points of view should be represented in Wikipedia articles.  Yaf (talk) 21:52, 12 May 2008 (UTC)


 * I dispute that the POV is represented with proper weight and balance. See my explanation given previously above, which remain unaddressed.  I am not interested in engaging in a discussion about the merits of gun rights, just that the article meets the weighted neutrality required by WP:NPOV policy.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 17:26, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Yaf revertedagain. Can we approach this disagreement in some other way that edit war please? WP:DR? SaltyBoatr (talk) 18:20, 13 May 2008 (UTC)


 * What are the current issues that you see with the article? Dropping a bomb as is your normal practice, to start an edit war with the community, and to then request page protection to lock the article against editing, is decidely ineffective.  Likewise, you getting blocked for 96 hours again (or longer the next time, I'm sure, for even higher repeat numbers of edit warring violations on the same article) is likewise ineffective.  It would be better for you to communicate your concerns, rather than edit warring with the community. So, what are your concerns? Censorship, I should mention, is not a valid proposal for you to make, to remove cited content representing a major point of view that is properly cited but to which you object on your principle of "I don't like it". Adding balancing content, instead of censoring content, would be the best approach.  The solution to perceived imbalances of free speech is usually more free speech.  I don't think the community would object at all to you adding properly cited content to address any perceived imbalance(s) that you see with the article. Yaf (talk) 18:33, 13 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Your encouragement to add properly cited content is a bit sly when viewed in context of your campaign to get me banned by falsely calling my constructive edit a 'revert', like you did on May 6th. If I make constructive edits will make that false accusation again? Will you stop your campaign to get me banned?  SaltyBoatr (talk) 15:16, 14 May 2008 (UTC)

This is Kafkaesque, that you and I dispute whether there is a dispute. Instead of your edit war tactics, will you agree to WP:DR to resolve the question: Is there a NPOV dispute? SaltyBoatr (talk) 19:41, 13 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Focus, please. What are the current issue(s) that you see with the article? (Or, if you prefer, as Kafka might have said, in a rough translation from low German (i.e., Nederlander taal) into English, "With the article, Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, after massive re-write, current issues, not old, exist?") Yaf (talk) 20:11, 13 May 2008 (UTC)

Don't feign ignorance of our long recent discussion (see above). Do you dispute that we have a dispute? If yes; will you agree to WP:DR to resolve the question: Is there a NPOV dispute? Answer please. SaltyBoatr (talk) 15:03, 14 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Focus, please. The first step to dispute resolution is discussion on a talk page. What are the current issue(s) that you see with the article?  If you cannot identify or express what the issue(s) is(are), other than you "don't like it", how can we find resolution?  I don't even know if we have an actual dispute, since I can't read your mind.  Yaf (talk) 17:52, 14 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Yes, focus. The point in dispute (subject to your revert war) is the question: Is there a NPOV dispute?   Please re-read what I have written these last several months for the details of the dispute. You insist on removing the NPOV dispute tag.  Do you dispute there is an ongoing POV dispute?  Answer please.   SaltyBoatr (talk)


 * Focus, please. The first step to dispute resolution is discussion on a talk page. What are the current issue(s) that you see with the article?  If you cannot identify or express what the issue(s) is(are), other than you "don't like it", how can we find resolution?  Yes, there was a dispute with a much earlier version of this article, before the major rewrite. I contend that this major rewrite addressed all of those issues. However, you have evidently not read the new version of the article, or are unable to express what the remaining issues, if any, are with the article.  Hence, I don't even know if we have an actual dispute currently, since I can't read your mind.  What are the current issue(s) that you see remaining with the article? Going back to rehash a version from months ago relative to POV issues that existed then is not germane to understanding what remains, in your mind, in terms of current POV issues.  Focus, please.   Yaf (talk) 03:11, 15 May 2008 (UTC)


 * I take it that you accept there is a POV dispute. Restoring tag.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 16:20, 15 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Wrong. There was an historical POV dispute.  Those issues were all fixed, and no POV label was on the article for nearly a week. Yet, you evidently have not read the revised article upon returning from a 96 hour block for edit warring. What are the current issues, if any, with the article?  Since no current POV issues have been identified, have removed POV tagline. Yaf (talk) 17:22, 15 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Yaf is edit warring yet again. SaltyBoatr (talk) 18:09, 15 May 2008 (UTC)


 * I currently dispute the neutrality of the POV! Specifically too.  See the top of this section, I continue to have a big concern about the over reliance on the originalist theory.  Also, I have POV concerns about the improper bluring of the right to bear arms in defense of themselves in Kentucky with the right to bear arms protected by the Second Amendment, an issue which you continue to stonewall.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 18:06, 15 May 2008 (UTC)

You still have not identified any problems with the current article text other than to say, "I don't like it"; I see no mention at the top of this section other than "I don't like it" in what are admittedly rather broad brush complaints. What specific concern(s) do you have with the article? I don't see originalist theory mentioned anywhere in the article. Likewise, I see no blurring of the interpretation of Bliss, other than there are two cited points of view in the article, and you evidently again effectively say, "I don't like it" in regards to just the one cite from the Hearing before Congress that makes the case that Bliss has been regarded as being about the Second Amendment. You don't reject the other cite that makes the case that some saw no issue with the Second Amendment with Bliss. There are two, clearly-cited, yet differing points of view about Bliss. This is balance. This is NPOV. On the other hand, evidently, you favor censorship of all major points of view that are cited with reliable and verifiable sources other than your own favourite POV. That is counter to fundamental Wikipedia policies; Wikipedia is not censored. It is not stonewalling to insist that we not censor Wikipedia. Rather, it is a clear sign that you are edit warring for you to insist on the removal of all content that you don't like, be it cited with reliable and verifiable sources or not. This is not defensible by any Wikipedia policies, to require that all content must pass the approval of one SaltyBoatr, else it be considered POV and requires tagging the article in perpetuity with a  label. NPOV implies that all major points of view must be included, including individual rights, gun rights, etc., not just gun control, gun bans, gun grabbing, collective rights, militia rights, and similar points of view. Censorship of Wikipedia, of points of view you disagree with, is not in accordance with Wikipedia policies. Yaf (talk) 19:38, 15 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Actually, I have identified current problems. I presently dispute the neutrality of the article.  The tag says:  "The neutrality of this article is disputed. Please see the discussion on the talk page. <U>Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved.</U>."  Yet, you insist on a revert war repeatedly removing this tag.  Explain why you must repeatedly remove the tag.  SaltyBoatr (talk) 20:32, 15 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Because you still have not identified any current problems with the current article text other than to say, "I don't like it" (in rather vague terms of "neutrality"). Please identify what the issues are so that they may be addressed. Otherwise, there is no reason for tagging the article.  The tag doesn't say <U>"SaltyBoatr doesn't like this article. Please leave this tag on this article forever, because there are no identified issues with it other than SaltyBoatr doesn't like it</U>.  The purpose of the POV tag is to identify disputes, not dislikes.  Identify a problem, please, so that if there is one, it may be fixed. "I don't like it" doesn't suffice. Yaf (talk) 21:06, 15 May 2008 (UTC)