Jan. 15, 2026 8 AM PT
To the editor: Concerning Bob Ladendorf’s latest letter to the editor, the 2nd Modification is simply superb as written (“Letters to the Editor: The patchwork of gun laws across the United States ‘endangers us all,’” Jan. 9). However why is it that people (and the Supreme Court docket) proceed to disregard what the 2nd Modification to the Structure truly says?
It doesn’t simply say “the proper of the individuals to maintain and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” What it says, in full, is that, “A properly regulated Militia, being essential to the safety of a free State, the proper of the individuals to maintain and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
So why did the patriots who wrote our Structure embrace these first 13 phrases? Although there’s been plenty of debate over this (together with within the aforementioned Supreme Court docket), your English trainer may let you know these first phrases are what could be referred to as a qualifying clause or situation. And see that the phrase “regulated” is contained in these phrases.
And nonetheless, some people select to disregard these first 13 phrases and are vehemently against any gun regulation by any means. Multiple polls point out that almost all of Americans imagine that our nation ought to have extra regulation on weapons. But, certainly one of our main political events chooses to comply with the needs of the Nationwide Rifle Assn. over the needs of the vast majority of Americans. Loads of Individuals die due to this, even very younger youngsters.
There’s nothing improper with the 2nd Modification as written. However when are all of us going to abide by the whole 2nd Modification?
Craig Peterson, Santa Monica
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To the editor: I wish to reply to the 2 anti-2nd Modification letters to the editor within the Jan. 11 problem.
There must be a cease to the fixed assaults on the 2nd Modification particular person proper of the law-abiding citizen to maintain and bear arms for lawful functions, as upheld by the US Supreme Court docket in numerous totally different circumstances.
There additionally must be a cease to the bigoted assaults on law-abiding residents who’re gun house owners or who want to develop into gun house owners, and the organizations that help them.
As a counter-balance, every state must be required to maintain correct statistics on crimes prevented by armed, law-abiding residents. The federal authorities ought to publish the statistics every year.
David R. Russell, Santa Monica
