Church - A place for quiet reflection ...

[merrylander]

This doctor might have benefitted I suppose;

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/us/01tiller.html

[piece-itpete]

When I was a young teen we had a armed madman take over our church. The police ended up having to gun him down while we listened on the floor. I saw the large red hersheys' kisses of kill shot blood 'drips'.

The pastor tried to head him off at the back door. My dad and another member guarded the front unarmed.

I have no doubt folks there would've been pleased to have one of the deacons armed.

Jon, people didn't think like that, here in the States anyway. The militia existed to protect the people which did include the state, as the state existed to serve the people.

Pete

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Jon, people didn't think like that, here in the States anyway. The militia existed to protect the people which did include the state, as the state existed to serve the people.

Pete

The militia existed because the Framers did not want a standing army after their expeience with the British troops. Unfortunately there was enough squabbling among the states that Madison's militia proved to be no match for the Irish regimant that burned the White House.

[piece-itpete]

Yeah, another quandry hard to solve, be "at all times ready for war" without an army.

But militias did predate the Revolution, as did the right to bear arms.

Pete

[d-ray657]

The title of this thread does remind me of visiting the John Street Church in NYC. It was the first Methodist church built in the United States. It stands in contrast to the commercial district in which it sits - just a block or two from Wall Street. The feeling inside the church is an even more significant contrast than the architecture. I first visited it when I was in New York for some particularly contentious litigation. The sense of peace a visit to the sanctuary provided was unforgettable.

Regards,

D-Ray

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Yeah, another quandry hard to solve, be "at all times ready for war" without an army.

But militias did predate the Revolution, as did the right to bear arms.

Pete

Pete visit Williamsburg sometime, the guns were kept locked up in the armory. Ordinary folks probably had hunting rifles but the big stuff was under lock and key.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Pete visit Williamsburg sometime, the guns were kept locked up in the armory. Ordinary folks probably had hunting rifles but the big stuff was under lock and key.

That's right.

Dave

[piece-itpete]

Been there - 3 times Love how they used them for decor.

I don't know anyone with cannons. Everyone then had rifles, even foreigners like Washington. And horror of horrors, they didn't need a license to buy or keep them.

Pete

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by piece-itpete

Been there - 3 times Love how they used them for decor.

I don't know anyone with cannons. Everyone then had rifles, ...

Actually, nobody had rifles (yet). They had muskets. Rifles extended the range of muskets several hundred percent. I don't think the Founding Fathers saw that one coming.

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by finnbow

Actually, nobody had rifles (yet). They had muskets. Rifles extended the range of muskets several hundred percent. I don't think the Founding Fathers saw that one coming.

Wonder what they would think of private citizens possessing AK-47s and 50 caliber sniper rifles?

Dave