I was dismayed to find the letter from Wilma Jozwiak ("Second Amendment a growing menace," Dec. 29). After rereading in disbelief, I want to clarify for your readers the intent of our Founding Fathers when the Second Amendment was drafted:
Deterring tyrannical government,
Repelling invasion,
Suppressing insurrection,
Facilitating a natural right of self-defense,
Participating in law enforcement, and
Enabling the people to organize a militia system.
England and many other sovereign states had ratified common laws for self-defense previous to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. Further, we did not invent the right to keep and bear arms when we drafted the Second Amendment; the right was pre-existing as both common law and natural law.
I am glad to stand with the many Americans who oppose any further gun control laws. On the other side are those seemingly misinformed Americans who are in favor of further limiting our civil liberties. I urge all Times Union readers to contact state and federal representatives and implore them to uphold the spirit of the Second Amendment.
TIMOTHY P. RODRIGUEZ
Schenectady