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Letter: Keep in mind real history of the Second Amendment
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With the recent tragedy in Newtown, the debate over gun control has flared up again, as it should. Something as awful as Newtown should not go by without some civil discourse. However, I have noticed a particular trend to the conversation. Gun rights advocates seem to be under the impression that we have guns to defend ourselves from the United States government. When the Bill of Rights was written (in order to get the Constitution ratified), soldiers' weapons were the same as the military's. Citizens could stand up to the nation's military. Just look at Shays' Rebellion. Of course, we didn't have an official standing army for a long time, so the average citizens were the military. That's why the Second Amendment begins, "A well regulated militia." Militia was all we had. Today, technology has advanced and the AR-15, and everything else we own, pales in comparison to what our government possesses. The United States spends more on its military than any other country on Earth. We outspend all of Europe combined. Our military can go anywhere at any time and defeat any country on Earth in a conventional war. If our government did decide to become an "oppressive," "fascist," or "communist" regime, we the people could do very little. A semi-automatic rifle is not a match for an Abrams tank, or an F/A-18 Hornet. Don't worry, the National Rifle Association won't let Congress take guns away, but there are more valid reasons for having them than defense against our elected government. Anthony Killion, Orion 
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Today is Wednesday, May 22, the 142nd day of 2013. There are 223 days left in the year.
1863 -- 150 years ago: Large quantities of ice from LaCrosse and Lake Pepin are beingshipped on ice boats, towed by steamers to St. Louis and points below.
1888 -- 125 years ago: With the Mississippi River at 18 feet above the low water stage,Rock Island is waging a valiant fight to keep the river from flooding the entire city.
1913 -- 100 years ago: Approval has been given by the city commission for paving 45thStreet between 7th and 11th Avenues.
1938 -- 75 years ago: Herndon Wright, of East Moline, has won the discus-throw title, by aheave of more than 140 feet, to set a new high school record at Champaign.
1963 -- 50 years ago: With the Selective Service Law recently extended by Congress forfour more years, Mrs. Hazel Doris reminded young men that they must register withinfive days after attaining their 18th birthday.
1988 -- 25 years ago: Over 500 Quad-Cities area retired volunteers were honoredrecently for their community services at a Retired Senior Volunteer Program luncheonat Palmer Auditorium in Davenport. Guest speaker, William Moffitt, director of productengineering of Deere & Co., spoke about leadership and stressed the importance ofcommunity volunteers.
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