In a recent speech on gun control, President Joe Biden once again resorted to his usual rhetoric, which is filled with inaccuracies and distortions. His favorite argument, that the Second Amendment does not protect the right to own certain weapons, is simply false. Contrary to Biden’s claim, the Second Amendment guarantees the right to bear arms without specifying the types of weapons one can own. His reference to the phrase “the tree of liberty is watered with the blood of patriots” is also misleading. The quote originates from Thomas Jefferson, but Biden conveniently leaves out the part about tyrants, using it as a strawman to insinuate that gun owners are seeking violence.
Biden’s assertion that owning firearms is futile because the government can simply overpower citizens with F-16s is not only an extreme exaggeration but also a disturbing reflection of his mindset. It suggests a disregard for the fundamental principles of individual liberty and self-defense. By that logic, one could argue that the First Amendment becomes meaningless if the government shuts down the electrical grid or that the Fifth Amendment loses its value when individuals are coerced into confessions through torture. The very purpose of the Second Amendment is to safeguard citizens against government abuses of power.
Furthermore, Biden’s repeated claim that AR-15s are “weapons of war” is simply not true. The civilian versions of AR-15 rifles have been available since the early 1960s, well before the military adopted the M16 variant. AR-15s have been commonly used by law-abiding civilians and are not designed for military combat. The Founding Fathers intended for citizens to possess weapons that could serve as a defense against any threat to their liberties. Private citizens have historically owned cannons and other weapons without restrictions, highlighting the founders’ belief in an armed citizenry as a safeguard against tyranny.
It is concerning that Biden, who claims to have taught constitutional law, would make such glaringly false statements. The Second Amendment, like the rest of the Constitution, was designed to be adaptable to technological advancements and societal changes. The founders were not naive to the concept of progress and understood that the right to bear arms extends beyond specific types of firearms. Additionally, Biden’s self-proclaimed status as a “Second Amendment guy” is disingenuous, as he has consistently supported and voted for gun control measures throughout his political career.
It is worth noting that Biden’s alleged teaching of constitutional law is also misleading. He was never a professor of constitutional law and only held an honorary-professor position at the University of Pennsylvania, which involved limited public appearances rather than regular classroom instruction. The discrepancy between his claims and the reality raises questions about his understanding of the Constitution and the principles it upholds.
