Dorrier Underwood

The Second Amendment: 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. When I read the 2 nd amendment, I get a little confused.  First, the darned thing seems a bit convoluted…what does a well-regulated militia have to do with the right of the people? Are the people, ALL the people, the militia?  I suppose, at the time this was written, the people WERE the militia, pretty much all of the people. And we were disorganized trying to create a new country. That’s not true now…we have a real well regulated militia, and all the millions and millions of people who have guns are just not part of it.  We allow our militia – the army, navy, marines, coast guard - to protect us, which is likely what the writers of this amendment intended to mean, and what Jefferson would have meant when he approved it. There would be some designated people to be our militia, and they would be wel...

My father killed himself with a perfectly legal handgun left over from his law enforcement days.  He kept it long after he retired, in the top drawer of a mahogany chest of drawers in our big hall, unloaded but right beside the ammunition. My brother and I knew not to touch it…not ever. Dad was troubled about his health, and the gun was handy and available that December morning. I don’t know if he would have used another method. I just know he didn’t.