Steve, not so sure my northern neighber but it was a good thought you had. I'm starting to think were in a bad place here in the US. I'm hoping we can for the sake of our country reach some comman ground.

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

Let the "he ain't gonna take my guns" hysteria commence in 3...2...1...

There is absolutely NO reason for John Q. Public to own assault weapons... PERIOD!..,Wrong "RED"

Those weapons are designed for only ONE purpose and that is to KILL! ....Wrong "RED"

That statement is short-sighted at best, fister you call it hysteria many millions in America refer to it as Self-preservation "A right given to mankind & endowed by our creator. As, goes freewill, So goes the right to personally defend ones life

All firearms are designed to propel a projectile at a target with the purpose of destruction. However they are merely tools in the hands of the user

It really not about the style of the tool, it's more about the intent of the user,

President Barack Obama on Monday acknowledged that full implementation of his expected gun control proposals may be stonewalled in Congress but pledged to "vigorously pursue" recommendations from an administration task force, including a "meaningful" assault weapons ban.

Just say NO, too INFRINGEMENT

Ok, folks here is the reason that the far left Collectivist people in the Democrat party, mostly of which are the self aggrandized firearm haters. (I don't really like the word "gun") so?

Anyway, these a fore mentioned, Collectivists Have, engrained themselves in the Education system and are playing the long game. The progressive wing has been playing the long game since before the turn into the 20th century, and has hijacked the DNC and Democrats many years ago. The main reason they do not want Armed guards in elementary schools is, the physical presence of armed guards with firearms does not bode well with their indoctrination agenda. They want children to believe firearms are evil and are not tools used for protection and safety from crazy criminals. So in turn lefties would rather demonize law abiding citizens as lunatics. To push an agenda driven by the long game far left prog trolls.

Really, now that stateists are in extreme positions of power elected & appointed. They seem to be slathering and drooling all over themselves to get their ideology of Utopianisim installed, before they are pushed back again. Challenging the Second Amendment in a attempt to circumvent the right to Self preservation, will prove to be a catalyst of detriment for their cause.

Keep it up progies, your rotten teeth, loathing foul breath & seedy underhanded intentions 4ward--->

Gives you away...

Btw many trolls relate the saying "Adam Lanza was not a Criminal"? false, yes he was.

He became a criminal when he shot his mother, and walked out of his house with her property with what had just been turned into an assault weapon during his act of assault on her.

Goodnight all peace be with you.

Why don't the libs talk about enforcing the laws on the books? Oh we don't want to hurt criminals, no death penalty. If anyone murders anyone, I do not care what the weapon and there is no doubt they did it, then put them to death that day or the next. This will send a big message to criminals. They know the laws better than people that do not break the law. It's a start.

We're going to change things around here. Let these right-wing bozos complain and moan all they want - the INTELLIGENT are taking over, hear? We support Obama and we don't like stupid people who can't understand that the gun-dums have gotten away with murder for long enough. Stick together - we'll make change.

Zippy wants to ban something that was banned in 1986? He IS without a doubt worthy of being called a pinhead. Full auto and select fire weapons made after 1986 atr NOT for sale to the public. Those that are out there have prices that START around $5000 plus $200 for a tax stamp and EXTENSIVE background check.

Watch out folks! The president is wanting to ban sporting arms because they LOOK like assault weapons. Youe car could be next.

Because of Newtown....Because of Newtown.....Because of Newtown......

All of you anti-gun people are more crazy than the psycho who did the shooting.

It would be meaningful to find a way to lock schools so crazy people can't get in and attack children. That should be everyone's focus. Make schools safer.

Because
of actions from a criminal law abiding gun owners should not pay. Following is
a testimony to a bill I opposed in CT. the bill was for registering all
rifles/long guns here's my testimony;

bill
no.5800 in CT.titled ‘an act requiring registration of all firearms.’ At first
when the supposed elquida did the 9-11 thing the U.S. government was trying to
ban all 50 caliber weapons in the U.S. on the grounds that’s the rifle the
elquida uses. [a lame excuse] Then the government was paying citizens to give
up their firearms to put into a melting pot. Now all of a sudden they want to
know what firearms everyone possesses. It shouldn’t be any of Connecticut’s or
the

Governments business unless the state/government plans to confiscate the guns.
This proposed bill no.5800 maybe trampling on a Federal civil liberty, this
being true it cannot become a law or have change at state level. This makes me
think of the country Kosovo, their government took their firearms then raped
and pillaged. I don’t feel like getting raped and pillaged by my government.
The second amendment states, “the right to bear arms to forma militia to
protect ourselves from government over throw, to protect our families and
properties,.” When our government wants to over throw it’s citizens if they
know people have guns by the registering of them, the ability to protect ones
self will be daunted. The
Bill of Rights, when adopted, was for the protection of the individual against
the federal government. First 10 amendments were proposed and adopted largely
because of fear that Government might unduly interfere with prized individual
liberties. This bill is another way to break the backbone of our civil rights
and liberties. Stop trespassing on law - abiding citizens and what they keep in
their houses, focus on criminals on our streets and the weapons they may have.
Protection firearms provide isn’t just for police or criminals it’s mainly for
us the United States citizen. Bill 5800 would be against our fourth amendment
which partially is; 'The right of the people to be secure in their persons,
houses, papers, and effects ETC. Also the A.T.F. will have cause to come
into houses and search to make sure the count of firearms is correct according
to the house holds gun registry?

Why is it lawmakers keep trying to make laws that stomp on our rights and
freedoms to choose? This bill is a failure of freedoms and welcoming fascism.
Enough is enough!

Now
since the tragedy in CT. they are going to try to limit bullets in semi -
automatic guns there was another proposed bill to have guns that can have no
more than ten rounds in it. One person made a great point stating,' police are
practicing shooting all the time but when it comes to shooting a person police
rarely hit the person with the first couple of shots.

Meaning
regular citizens protecting themselves should have all the rounds in the gun
possible to be sure to hit the criminal to be sure and be able to protect
oneself on the grounds of most of us not professional shooters. Remember the
police in n\N.Y. the first three shots the police missed the culprit and two of
the first three shots hit bystanders. Another words people of the U.S. we
should never be limited on the bullets our guns hold.. Last but not least all
hand guns are registered unless you’re grandfathered in,'from when the
government let you buy a hand gun as long as you just kept it in your house but
if you want to carry you must register it. Here’s an example if they pass the
law of not to have a gun that can have more than 10 rounds in it, which is most
9m.m. Now the government knows there are 500.000 9m.m. pistol owners. The
government will have legal action to go to every household that had these hand
guns registered with the state and observe their 9m.m handgun to be sure it
cannot hold more than ten bullets. And if you do still have your 9m.m. that
hold 15 rounds or more you will busted and lose all your guns and will be a
felon. Imagine all the hand gun owners that will have to get rid of their 9m.m.
because of the fascist law of no more than ten bullets in the gun magazine. Don't
look know but they passed the laws in
the state of MA. United we stand divided we fall. they are trying to unarm U.S.
don't let this happen because of a criminal that had stolen guns and went on a killing
rampage when in reality that has nothing to do with law abiding gun owners. Yet
lawmakers are making it seem so.

I really really really want this guy impeached!........over 1300 kids died from starvation in the US in 2012, and not "ONE" assault rifle was used!!!!!!!!!!!

...a headline on cnn shows obama claiming that the gun lobby stokes fear, but isn't that what obama is doing on the deficit/debt issues? practically the first thing out of his mouth was the statement that checks for seniors and the military might not be cut.

Americans should "Vigorously Pursue" Impeaching that un-American POS..!

Sign this petition on https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/enact-legislation-will-provide-mental-health-assessments-people-currently-owning-guns/ZDmYD9M1

Enact legislation that will provide mental health assessments for people currently owning guns who may be
having mental health issues. While background checks need to be mandatory for all purchasers we need a mechanism to address the problem of current gun owners or people residing with them who may have slipped into mental illness.

There should be a way for family, law enforcement, neighbors, and other concerned citizens to request an evaluation. If the person is found to be mentally ill by a competent mental health professional, a legal hearing should commence to adjudicate the removal of the guns and that name be placed on the registry to prevent further purchases.

2nd Amendment is doing its job. "Protecting us from a Tyrannical Government".

If they took assault weapons, how would we protect ourselves from tyranny??? We've got nuclear weapons on standby to protect the USA from tyranny that other countries may bring on us, the 2nd amendment says plainly that we have the right to bear arms and that right should not be infringed upon, the 2nd amendment says we can protect ourselves from tyranny within our own government...AR-15 type rifles account for about 2% of gun murders, so why is the focus on semi-automatic AR-15's??? Our Constitution protects the American people from tyranny...Your NOT getting any guns, the country is BROKE, jails are FULL of real criminals, and a ban on ANY guns does NOT WORK, it's already been proven...AR-15's are rarely used to commit murders, so again, why go after AR-15's???

what an idiot we have for president. i bet the guns dealers are loving this. guns that were selling for $700.00 are now selling for $ 1900.00 and 223 ammo at a recent gun show was priced at $2000.00 for 2000 rounds. incase someone has trouble with math that is $1.00 per round. all of you gun grabbers might as well give it up because you are never going to take our guns. as Ted Nugent sid the other day we all need to not give up anything. we need to tell obama and the government to put all of their talk where the sun don't shine because we will have our guns when they are dead and gone.

1. Mandate Psych Eval for ALL seeking gvt job, from public school janitors to the POTUS; as UCLA study has shown, many politicians and CEO’s share the same exact psych profile as that of convicted serial killers and sociopaths. No joke, look it up.

2. Mandate ALL seeking public office take the strict Constructionist test on the Constitution, Federalist/Anti-Federalist papers, and philosophical foundations behind it, ie. knowledge and understanding of what Natural Rights are.

3. Mandate ALL seeking public office to declare their entire wealth, including trusts, and blind trusts, to be put into escrow, to be forfeited to their district if they violate their Constitutional Oaths, along with any campaign promise made.

4. ALL in public office who refer to themselves as “leaders” and not SERVANTS, shall pay $100,000 (or equivalent from the day enacted, to counter any inflation should US remain on Fiat currency system of the Fed. Reserve), for each utterance and infraction occurance! LOL

5. ALL in public office who seek non-Constitutional paths in amending the Constitution, or conspire, or legislate to limit or infringe upon the Bill of Rights in ANY matter, one shall face the same punishment cited for the violation of the Coinage Act of 1792.

Obama needs impeached, epecially if he goes AGAINST the Constitution of which he took an OATH to uphold. The 2nd amendment shall NOT b e infringed upon, what PART don't the communist controllers understand???

@ VLGil

In reply to post

#1273 - Tue Jan 15, 2013 4:58 AM CST

Good example, of a scenario which occurs all to often.

A 9mm semi-automatic or a .38 cal revolver will do more to mitigate the threat of bodily injury or death and protect you and your family from criminal evil doers than, Calling 9-1-1 will ever be there for your defense.

9-1-1 is who we call for back-up, clean-up & investigation of events previously transpired.

The Obligation of Self-preservation, including but not limited too, defense of yourself and family, is an inherent Right, every human receives at birth, and a Duty that that is, developed over A lifetime.

I am Just happy there are tools available, that help make that an easier Responsibility to meet.

The 2nd Amendment was not only designed for everyday protection,But to ensure that any for of TYRANY would be met with resistance. For which was stated when states like Pennsylvania adopted the 2nd amendment that a standing armed force during peace time is suseptible to being used by any power hungry Government! .............To resist this threat, How is banning assault rifles allowing this to happen if need be? sorry , But assault weapons stay! God I'm so glad I did'nt vote for this dude!

Based on irrefutable history, anti gun extremists have never offered concessions or compromise. They by their actions and statements only wish to take based on their unsubstantiated and illogical fears of their mythical boogeyman, the law abiding gun owner in their promotion that gun control reduces violence, when it never does.

See were the antis really serious about coming to table and meeting the pro gun side halfway, they must be willing to give something up in return, see that is how compromise occurs.

So what should be the suggestion, ah, I have it.

The antis at various times have tried to shame the gun owners into submission by posting who has permits and licenses, claiming if they have nothing to hide why should they worry.

So using that logic, we will propose the anti gun side do likewise since they have nothing to hide, and essentially wish to opt out of exercising their 2A right as well as opt out of defending themselves or their loved ones.

We suggest the anti gun people be willing to wear a symbol to identify their gun free status, uh like the STAR OF DAVID. Such an appropriate mark for disarmed victims.

We pro gun people will wear the Stars & Stripes representing our belief and support of the US Constitution and our BOR.

Then the antis will be be required to post this STAR OF DAVID (SOD) on their front door, their lawn, their vehicle to show their masters that they are gun free, afterall, they have nothing to hide.

We will post the Stars & Stripes on the same places!

This way the police and the criminals will know whom they must protect/attack, whats the difference, even though by law they (the police have been ruled dozens of times not to be legally liable) to do so.

Those who choose to rely on the police, who only solve an average of 8.06% of all violent crimes committed each year, should themselves alone pay any increases in costs for the police to do so and those with the SOD symbol on their person, clothing and home will allow the police to maximize and be efficient in their valiant, but hopeless efforts.

Then as a further measure to protect those who are so fearful of the law abiding gun owner, will need to be sheltered in gated communities, appropriately named SOD-OM & Gomohra.

Since you wish to move all the crazies out of the house where sane gun owners live, we suggest they are moved into SOD-OM & Gomohra.

Since there are 350 million firearms in the US and it appears you want to confiscate all those firearms not "qualified", we suggest a buy back program like Australia did, only we wont accept half value for our property like they did, something to do with the 4th amendment ya know!

Roughly 90%of all those weapons are semi-auto and just using the $475 amount the Australian govt, paid for each weapon in 1996. That would be somewhere around $170-$225 billion dollars you need to come up with and oh one more thing, no gun owner will be taxed to cover that cost, only those wearing an SOD symbol will be taxed, after all, it is you that want this to occur! At 62 million who voted for Obama that equals an additional $2,800 to $3,629 tax on you antis to pay for that!

We will then insist that firearms safety training be mandated in elemtary, middle and high school curriculum, at minimum like a hunter safety class, just like Health class used to have a time devoted to home and safety training when I was a student. This will decrease the likelyhood of accidents, even though accidental deaths of children 0-18 is the lowest it has been in decades at 100 in 2009 per CDC.

Real quick question, since felons and bad guys arent held to obey such laws, and they are responsible for over 92% of deaths by illegal use of a firearm, just how do you plan on getting those criminals and such in to get the bio safety installed, get them trained, and repeat that each year?

As to licenses, if you wish them to occur every year, they will only cost gun owners $5, which will cover handling and processing fee's in perpetuity.

No other fee's taxes, township or otherwise will be levied against a firearm other than standard manufacturing and sales taxes the state applies to all goods sold!

Then of course any company, organization, govt. entity, school that wishes to disarm patrons etc, must then put in place protective measures to defend the innocents they disarm, making it illegal on the federal level to increase their costs to pass on to their customer or patrons, taking such costs directly from their own profits.

A law will be made that the BATF must prosecute every felon or person rejected by the background check instead of the less than 1% (over 1 mil since 1994, and 830,000 others rejected) today or face federal funding cutbacks.

This law will also force the BATF to allow civilian access without extra licensing or control to use the NICS background check for private sales.

Next the state govt. will be held financially and criminally responsible for failure to fund and resource the NICS mental health reporting function.

Today the NICS database shows only 1.7 mil records of those who by due process have lost their rights. All while mental health experts identify that 50% of current 2.7 mil prisoners have severe mental health illness, and 7% of adults (21.8 mil) also have severe mental illness in the US.

Next, all laws that don’t apply to felons, will be judged unconstitutional and removed from the roles, simplifying gun control laws for the law abiding gun owners.

No registration will ever be accepted, so you need to dump that or any other tracking device as it just isn’t happening.

See Haynes vs. US 390, 85, 1968 for the guidelines of what 85% of the existing gun control laws do not apply to felons due to the 5th amendment right of no self incrimination which by law means no registration, permits, training etc, etc, etc...

Next, legalize illicit drugs and destroy the cartels and gangs influence fueled by massive drug revenues. This will save $50 bil minimum in DEA budget, then taxes can be generated by using those agents to tax and control the former illicit drugs, not to mention drastically reduce the amount of violent crime associated with the illicit drug trade.

This will open prison space where 30-40% are incarcerated for drug offenses to put the 99% of felons the BATF formerly refused to prosecute for attempting to buy firearms.

Waiting periods have never proven to have any value, hence irrelevant.

No limits on personal ownership including ammunition as many buy in bulk to enjoy the shooting sports.

All states are required to honor the same exact amount of training, concealed carry, ownership, transport, storage laws, etc, etc, by the way this is not negotiable!

The age to own a pistol is pretty much 21 wherever in the US already and in deference to the 43.5 million hunters in the US, your suggestion for no one under 21 to own a shotgun, 30-30, .22 rifle and such is a deal breaker. Threaten that and all who support gun control will be voted out in the next election cycle as many devoted hunters don’t care about self defense, they do care about hunting, and 43.5 million pissed off hunters and hunting organizations will vote the democrats out of power just like in 1994!

Since these compromises will only affect the 92% of all deaths by illegal use of a firearm are indeed committed by career criminals, gang members, and suiciders, this will indeed be an appropriate start and is indeed concessions the antis have to available to offer.

These are indeed common sense solutions as they actually address the criminals and not the law abiding gun owners.

Or you could just focus on the bad guys, you choose which windmill you wish to tilt at!

I want to start by saying the problem is with the people who do these shootings and not what they use. Much is being said about universal background checks and mentally disturbed people. While I agree criminals and mentally disturbed people have no business having a firearm I hope people understand doing what some are calling for isn't going to end these incidents.

The only way it would have a chance to be effective is that a buyer would have to have a mental exam each and every time he/she buys a firearm. Not practical to say the least. As we know some mental illness doesn't show itself until later in life, so when you bought that firearm at age 25 you might be just fine, but when you hit your 40's you start to develop problems. He already ownes the firearm so the background check is irrelevent.

How does a background check solve the Lanza situation? He didn't purchase the firearm, his mother did. Do you forbid anyone in the family from owning a firearm because of a condition by one of the family members?How far do you extend that? Grandparents? Aunts and uncles? Nephews and nieces? Cousins? Again not very practical.

It's a problem that needs to be solved, but the proposals aren't the cure all many think they will be.

Then of course the anti’s who consistently wish to blame inanimate objects for the rampage, yet based on government facts, the previous semi-auto rifle banned because they look evil, didn’t reduce violent crime in any fashion.

Shall we look at the FBI report from several years ago?

Violent Encounters – A study of Felonious Assaults on our nations law enforcement officers

USDOJ, FBI, National Institute of Justice August 2006

You should read the National Sciences Foundation report from 2004 on gun control laws, a study that was formed by the anti gun Clinton Administration so just like the Ludgwig & Cooke study noted below, doesn't prove any causality theory, much less any effect of gun control laws on violent crime.

An Updated Assessment of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban: Impacts on Gun Markets and Gun Violence, 1994-2003, National Institute of Justice, June 2004 E.G. Government admits the ban didnt do didley squat

Firearm Violence, a critical Review" 2004 says same thing, no reduction in violence.

Even more hilarious is the fact the antis try to manufacture a mountain out of a molehill.

2010 FBI UCR database shows 1.25 mil violent crimes reported (4 mil not reported USDOJ National Victimization report), 322,691 involved a firearm, 14,748 murders, 358 by illegal use of any type of rifle, 162 by use of a semi-auto rifle banned because they look evil.

(firearms were used in 67.5 percent of the Nation’s murders 14,748 = 9,955, 41.4 percent of 367,832 robberies =152,282, and 20.6 percent of aggravated assaults 778,901 =160,453.)

All while in 2010 FBI UCR, we see deaths committed by illegal use of hands, fists, feet, blunt objects and knives accounted over 3,129 deaths, each by themselves accounting for far more deaths than the anti’s mythical boogeyman, the semi-auto rifle banned because they look evil.

The anti’s really should get going on registering and banning hands, fist, feet, all type of blunt objects and all knives as clearly they are a more serious threat in the real world.

Of course the antis will persist as we see what actually happened with Loughner. Loughner, who used a 31 round magazine for his Glock pistol and in doing so, fumbled his tactical reload he had not practiced thereby allowing people to tackle his dumb arse.

A 31 round magazine that when loaded is a heavy unwieldy device that requires a significantly different effort to lock into battery to fire. A fact that anyone with firearms experience, which the vast majority of anti’s have none.

Many sport shooters use these same pistols in competitions, requiring only 1.4 seconds between last shot fired to first shot fired to first shot in the fresh magazine.

Really hard to prove to everyone how people, running, ducking, hiding from an active crazy shooter like Loughner, can in 1.4 seconds, recognize the opportunity, stop, turn around, cross that distance and tackle Loughner without getting shot.

The FT Hood shooter was practiced in tactical reloads, and there are multiple accounts of unarmed, but extremely brave military personnel who in that incident, attacked the shooter to attempt to stop him, they are all DEAD!

Then Holmes, he who had two of the temperamental and unreliable 100 round BETA c Magazines, who failed to load and properly lubricate either, and within 30 rounds jammed his rifle, leaving about 170 rounds unfired, ending his shooting spree.

Amazing how the shooters were not firearms savvy, unknowledgeable, and as a result, created the windows for stopping or that stopped their shooting spree as like good little sheep, those that obeyed the law were disarmed victims enabled by the belief that disarming the law abiding will result in less violence and actions.

But no, the anti’s wish to limit people to lower capacity magazines. You know, those that are battle proven, ultra reliable so that the possibility of jamming the rifle by inappropriate loading or lubrication is so remote, as to making even untrained killers like Loughner & Holmes that much more effective at killing. Such are the unintended consequences of unknowledgeable fools.

Because one mentally ill person got a hold of a semi-automatic, look alike assault weapon, they want to ban all these weapons. The remainder of law-abiding sane people are now being punished. How this is going to protect anyone is beyond me. What if the next time this sick person uses a car to plow thru a group of children at a bus stop? Using this same logic, cars would be banned. Instead, they should be focusing on requiring mental health professionals to report any person who may be a danger to themselves or others to the FBI. The FBI in turn would enter that person's name into the NCIS database to prevent that person from buying any firearm. Firearm owners who have a mentally ill person living in their household would be required to secure all firearms as to deny access to the mentally ill person. You could also go as far as to require the FBI to notify local law enforcement when a person's name has been reported. Local law enforcement would then notify the home owner and check to ensure that all firearms are secured. Punishing an entire nation for the actions of one person is anti-American. It's apparent that politicans have no common sense and want to control citizens, not represent them.

boston.com/community/blogs/crime_punishment/2012/08/no_increase_in_mass_shootings.html

Based on data extracted from official police reports to the FBI, the figure below shows annual incident, offender and victim tallies for gun homicides in which at least four people were murdered. Over the thirty-year time frame, an average of about 20 mass murders have occurred annually in the United States with an average death toll of about 100 per year.

Without minimizing the pain and suffering of the hundreds of who have been victimized in senseless attacks, the facts say clearly that the has been no increase in mass killings, and certainly no epidemic. Occasionally, we have witnessed short-term spikes with several shootings clustering close together in time.

Feisty Redhead -- your either a bleeding liberal who loves OBAMA and Socialism or have no idea what the 2nd amendment is about. Typical Liberal strategy... If you dont know how to fix it, ban it or TAX-it.....

Problem is the number of Nut Cases.... Look at the panic from the TSA when on guy tried to explode his shoes, now everyone must take off shoes at airport scanners... Strictly INTIMIDATION... This is the gun issue...

After 14 years with Gov't NSA -- I have seen what this Government can (and will) do to people - even under Bill Clinton... and I know Obummer is even worse... They will never take my guns...... Or they will die trying...

Read the words of the founding fathers.....

Most bad government has grown out of too much government.-Thomas Jefferson

Fear is the foundation of most governments; but it is so sordid and brutal a passion, and renders men in whose breasts it predominates so stupid and miserable, that Americans will not be likely to approve of any political institution which is founded on it. John Adams

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.Thomas Jefferson:

The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government Thomas Jefferson

"We, the people are the rightful masters of both Congress and the courts, not to overthrow the Constitution, but to overthrow men who pervert the Constitution." Abraham Lincoln

We the People have a Constitutional duty to alter or abolish a government which has become tyrannical. First we have to recognize that we live under a tyranny. It is no doubt in my mind that we do as evidenced by the amount of power that the federal government holds over the States and the individual. When that government prevents the People from electing anyone outside their sphere of influence or control, we do not have the freedom to control our own destiny as a People. " Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and, accordingly, all experience has shown, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations. Pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security". Thomas Jefferson (Annals of America, 2:447-48.)