This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In "Newtown fearmongers" (Forum, Dec. 30), Allan Hales defends his Second Amendment right to own firearms because someday he may need those guns to defend himself against the government. Ha!

The purpose of the Second Amendment, according to its own words, is to provide for a "well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State." And according to the Constitution, the militia is to be used to, among other things, "suppress Insurrections."

So it doesn't appear that the Founding Fathers had anti-government people like Harris at all in mind when they wrote our governing documents. Instead, they had in mind fighting wars and putting down rebels.

George E. Harris

Salt Lake City