Often, I hear that “the
people” have a right to bear arms to effect a change in government. Sometimes
they say, “It’s in the Constitution.” But there is no provision anywhere in the
Constitution for such violence.
I think what they refer
to is a statement in the Declaration of Independence, of which the fullness of
the sentence follows…
“But when a long train of
abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to
reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to
throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”
That sentence is a philosophical
rather than legal statement in what is essentially a Congressional intent press
release (significant and elaborate) rather than a legally authoritative
document.
Please note that the
statement describes a “long line of abuses” including “absolute Despotism.”
It does not authorize or
encourage violence against the government merely because a faction of the
people disagrees with the ideological landscape in the nation.
The preponderant point of
the Declaration was to communicate, to a candid world, the justification of “last
resort” action when all good faith negotiations had failed.
The Declaration was never
intended to excite future generations to attack the Capitol, or any other hall
of government, at any time, even when a Constitutional process is taking place of
which some people object.
As we approach our Semi
Quincentennial, let’s not only attend a parade and wave a flag, let’s actually
read the Declaration.
littera scripta manet
