There are two thoughts not being addressed in the current gun debate.

The first is that the U.S. Constitution’s 2nd Amendment says that “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.”

Focus on the phrase “a well regulated Militia.” How many of the various murderers of our schoolchildren and other citizens are connected to “a well regulated Militia?” How many have gone through military training for handling such weapons?

When one thinks of a militia, one thinks of the National Guard units or the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Buying an automatic or semiautomatic weapon and shooting at tin cans or bottles out in the woods or behind barns, does not constitute “a well regulated Militia.”

Hunters do not need automatic weapons.

My second thought is supported by the Constitution’s 9th Amendment, which states, “The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”

If one reads the Preamble to our Constitution, where it states, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity. . . .”

Automatic weapons in the hands of people who are not a part of a “well regulated Militia” do nothing to “insure domestic Tranquility . . . promote the general Welfare” and, most certainly, do not “secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity.”

We are allowing our posterity to be killed off because of the greed of irresponsible gun sellers and purchasers as well as being incapable of filtering out potential purchasers who, for reasons of mental instability, should not be allowed to purchase or handle guns.

I am neither a hunter nor a gun owner. I am not against guns or hunting.

However, I am against ignoring the rights of all others who live, work and play around those who own guns.