Gun Control Is as Old as the Old West, Smithsonian Magzine Article.

Interesting that in 1881 the NC Supreme Court affirmed the right to open carry guns in State v LR Speller.

"It does not say that a citizen when beset with danger shall not provide for his security by wearing such arms as may be essential to that end; but simply that if he does do so, he must wear them openly, and so as to be seen by those with whom he may come in contact."
 
It's older than that. Arms control is as old as government - be it Kings or democratically elected assemblies - as an armed population cannot fully be forced to do anything it doesn't want to do. It cannot be limitlessly taxed, forced to labor in the fields or factories, nor can it be slaughtered indiscriminately without fear of reprisals.

Arms control, like human tyranny itself, is not a recent happenstance, but the predominant human condition throughout the history of Man.

Liberty - now that is a recent innovation, which is why it is worth safeguarding from all hazards and defending against every foe.
 
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I think open vs concealed carry is a cultural issue that became a legal one. Back in the old west days, concealing your weapons was something that brigands would do and honest folks didn’t.
 
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Gun control, in its day, is in the Bible also.

The Philistines would not allow a blacksmith Israel. Only Saul and his son had swords. This is one of reasons the Israelites would not go to battle with them. Not until a ruddy faced youth heard a boast and got pissed.

Well, the rest is history.

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Well, it's old, so it must be good!

Bring back Serfdom!
 
Arms control never works out for the controlled. Just ask the citizens of Carthage. Rome imposed some pretty restrictive laws on arms and quantities and later just went over there and finished them off so thoroughly that their city is an archaeological site. The GCA was modeled on Nazi laws restricting certain classes of people from protecting themselves. See how that worked out.
 
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Having a firearm to protect yourself in the lawless wilderness from wild animals, hostile native tribes, and outlaws was a wise idea. But when you came into town, you had to either check your guns if you were a visitor or keep your guns at home if you were a resident.”
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I don’t see that distinction in the Bill of Rights, sorry. I think the founding fathers had a lot to say about citizens owning weapons and it contradicts this irrefutably
 
I think the real issues in the Old West were that lots of places back then were just Territories and not States. Don't know what folks thought of that difference back then, but it may have been part of the thinking at the time.
 
11B CIB said:
I don’t see that distinction in the Bill of Rights, sorry. I think the founding fathers had a lot to say about citizens owning weapons and it contradicts this irrefutably
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The author no doubt believes that in our super sophisticated modern society that wild animals, hostile natives and outlaws are no longer a thing.

I'd imagine people in progressive bastions like Detroit, NYC, LA and Washington, DC would likely refute such upper middle class gated community nonsense as wholly detached from reality.
 
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Dave951 said:
I think the real issues in the Old West were that lots of places back then were just Territories and not States. Don't know what folks thought of that difference back then, but it may have been part of the thinking at the time.
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Don't laugh...the distinction betweem territory and statehood is one big reason much of the Bill of Rights is now considered binding on the states.

Back in the early days, it was only considered binding on the federal government. I don't remember the case, but there was a big argument about how people in territories could have LESS rights when they acheived statehood.
 
Sometimes I learn new things accidentally. The cool Log of a Cowboy book mentioned in the article is available for free here: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12797
Also, I'd love to find one of those "hand in your shootin iron here's a coat check" tags- must be rare as hen's teeth.

The rest of it is some Academe reaching for some precedent that is largely irrelevant in today's world.
 
RetiredUSNChief said:
I don't remember the case, but there was a big argument about how people in territories could have LESS rights when they acheived statehood.
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It goes on to this day.
Ever been to a community meeting where the city wants to annex their neighborhood?
 
A man/woman without a firearm is starving when hungry or a victim against a criminal; The armed person is neither! Gun control laws/regulations are like sin as it will always be with us and we will always HAVE to confront it. Wherever we live in the good ol USA, we must pay attention as the consequence are dire and the fight long but we cannot appease!

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