The spirit of the law?

the second amendment. wow. Carol brought this first point: Every fit person should be compelled to undergo military training for 6 months at a specific age, perhaps 19. No exceptions -- not obesity, depression, nor most disabilities. One of the main things people should learn is how to safely use and care for firearms, including armored vehicles and artillery. Yes, we should have a draft so people understand the cost of war, and anyone who gets a paycheck from the federal government should see his or her sons and daughters drafted first, to serve at the front of the conflict.
OK... something to think about... the arms the founding fathers were talking about in the second amendment included only flintlock rifles, muskets, and single-shot pistols. We could also include swords, knives, cannons, clubs, rocks... At least in some ways, the founding fathers were visionaries, but they could not have envisioned the powerful handguns we have now. These guns shoot cartridges that conveniently package slug, shell, cap, and powder. Cartridge-shooting guns were relatively unknown until after the Civil War.

It is statistically proven that the hot-blooded murder rate was lower before cartridge-based repeating weapons became common. Of course people shot each other, but the time it took to load a black powder single shot weapon was prohibitive to killing anyone in the heat of anger.