Whereas a despotic government no longer operates with the consent of the governed,

Tails of the Gun, and the Second Amendment Whereas .... “ Monday I ran across this letter to the editor in our local rag, The Capitol; which, now that it's been purchased by the Sun Papers, truly deserves that sobriquet.  The author, Mr Clement, hath I think eloquently captured, in form and substance, my own long held view that the citizenry must be allowed to arm themselves equally with such police (and I include the military) that can be used against them by a despotic government. I don't know Mr. Clement, but I imagine he looks something like this As a staunch supporter of the right of the people to keep and bear arms, even in this age of WMD, I think I have found a small foothold on the slippery slope of gun control where I might safely and permanently stand.  I offer a proposition.    Whereas the purpose of the military is defense against foreign enemies, and    Whereas the purpose of the police is enforcement of domestic law, and    Whereas a  government is despotic which turns its military against its people, and    Whereas a despotic government no longer operates with the consent of the governed, Now, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall be limited only to the extent that these same limitations apply to all police forces having jurisdiction over the citizen. Simply draw up a list of that subset of weaponry which the police may use,  and you  have a list of authorized weaponry for the common citizen. Some lament that such a proposal leaves the police "outgunned."  Our founders knew otherwise.    "… all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, then to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations...".    A public armed  as herein described poses no threat to the civil society but, rather, is the key check to that unbridled power which inevitably leads to a long train of abuses and usurpations. William Clement, Arnold, MD The Capital, August 25, 2014 ”