After following the link to Monticello, I think that the idea you are mistaken is, in fact, a mistake; rather, the adulterated quote attributed to JEfferson is, in fact the POINT of the matter.
I excerpt the full text Monticello uses from source material here:
"A principal source of errors and injustice are false ideas of utility. For example: that legislator has false ideas of utility who considers particular more than general conveniencies, who had rather command the sentiments of mankind than excite them, who dares say to reason, 'Be thou a slave;' who would sacrifice a thousand real advantages to the fear of an imaginary or trifling inconvenience; who would deprive men of the use of fire for fear of their being burnt, and of water for fear of their being drowned; and who knows of no means of preventing evil but by destroying it.
The laws of this nature are those which forbid to wear arms, disarming those only who are not disposed to commit the crime which the laws mean to prevent. Can it be supposed, that those who have the courage to violate the most sacred laws of humanity, and the most important of the code, will respect the less considerable and arbitrary injunctions, the violation of which is so easy, and of so little comparative importance? Does not the execution of this law deprive the subject of that personal liberty, so dear to mankind and to the wise legislator? and does it not subject the innocent to all the disagreeable circumstances that should only fall on the guilty? It certainly makes the situation of the assaulted worse, and of the assailants better, and rather encourages than prevents murder, as it requires less courage to attack unarmed than armed persons."[4]
As a result of analyzing the language, context unknown, I concede - it sounds as if Jefferson was making a note of the argument, rather than casting a judgement.
Meaning: The False Idea - as stated in the FIRST LINE of the source - is that making a law that removes weapons from the "rabble" will only disarm those who would obey the law. The idea of disarmament is, itself, the "false utility."
Bill's convinced me, and, after all, the statement is consistent with Jefferson's attitude towards guns expressed elsewhere. What do you think?
How about a real qoute from Ronald Regan, you know, conservative Jesus. “This is a matter of vital importance to the public safety ... While we recognize that assault-weapon legislation will not stop all assault-weapon crime, statistics prove that we can dry up the supply of these guns, making them less accessible to criminals.”
ReplyDeleteReagan was wrong about that. Why would I want to quote it?
DeleteHell, by 1994 Reagan was well into his Alzhiemers stage and the "Left" had been pointing out that he wasn't with the program for at least the last two years of his presidency.
ReplyDeleteNow that it is convenient to lionize him on this ONE issue, all of a sudden an old guy who by 1994 couldn't remember how to tie his shoes and a full eight years after the so-called "progressives" had labeled him senile, with a wave of their hand Reagan has been morphed into a thoughtful and considerate statesman on the gun rights issue. He was supposedly co-signing letters written by others and allegedly sending notes to congressman on the subject, correct? Did he perform this act between drools or only when Nancy's spiritual medium told her it was the right time for Ron to do it?
Even if the old coot actually knew what he was doing at the time, who cares? He probably didn't have a clue. Even his faggy kid said he wasn't with the program well prior to 1994. Ron "Thanks for the no-fault divorce act in 1968" Reagan successfully pushed an amnesty program for illegal immigrants in 1986 that has been an unmitigated disaster, right? The guy made mistakes right and left and if he actually was cogent when he supported the ban in '94, that was one of those mistakes he made to the left. Moreover, these same "progressives" who have had absolutely nothing good to say about anything the guy did now pry open his coffin for this? A man they have viscerally hated since the 1960's and now they want to buddy up to a dead white guy?
"Say it ain't so, Joe ..."
Strangely, I was born knowing what Jefferson said. Indeed. most people instinctively understand his point.
ReplyDelete