[Shadow]

Originally Posted by Rich Z

Actually, that is not correct. The US Constitution (and the Bill of Rights) doesn't "grant" us anything at all. It itemizes the powers and limitations of the government, as well as specifically verifying that all powers not granted to the government, belong to the people and the states. Our founding fathers wrote that document as an attempt to keep the beast they knew they were creating bound and chained. That is why our country is actually a constitutional republic, and NOT a democracy at all. All laws stem from the Constitution (theoretically, and if actually ENFORCED by the people), not the whims of the government. Unfortunately, we have let the beast loose of it's chains, and it will be the devil to pay to get it bound back up again.

Tomato, toMato.

Bob has a point.

And thanks Tracy.

And I'm afraid I'll have to disagree with you in this point.

Although many of our laws support the Constitution, many were once based on Old English "common" Law, much of which was based on religious principles at the time.
For better or for worse, they've changed over time.
Also, the constitution is a living, changing document.

But we're getting off track.

The original question was...do you have a "right" to defend yourself?

My answer is still yes, but not necessarily with a firearm.