By Jeff Ingebritsen

Formerly of Monroe

To the Editor:

Our Constitution was ratified by the 13 states in 1789. Our country was an agrarian, frontier nation with no standing army or police departments. Our independence from Great Britain had been achieved by largely volunteer militias. 

The Second Amendment to the Constitution reads: “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” (emphasis added). 

The “arms” that were available in the late 16th century consisted of muskets, flintlock rifles, and single shot pistols. 

It seems inconceivable that the legislators of 1789 could have imagined the advancements of armament that have occurred since the passage of the second amendment. Semi-automatic and automatic weapons, machine guns, and large capacity ammunition magazines have become available to take human life. 

For the “constitutional originalists”, I offer this compromise: you can have all the muskets, flintlock rifles, and single shot pistols that you desire. All other weaponry should be subject of some form of debate and possible regulation. 

For those well-funded second amendment supporters, legislators and judges offering “thoughts and prayers” upon this umpteenth tragic mass shooting on US soil, I offer this prayer — may you and yours not be the next victims.