Language can be a powerful but cunning tool. Change words slightly and presto, the context changes beneath ones feet.

For example, have you noticed how the language regarding guns has evolved recently? Its no longer gun control; instead its gun safety. What a clever shift. No one can object to gun safety, right? Its just plain reasonable. If you criticize it, you must be one of those crazy gun nuts.

The latest language shift is the characterization of open carry of firearms as a loophole. Obviously, if the Founding Fathers had any idea that citizens might run around carrying firearms openly, they would have forbidden it. Its perfectly clear to reasonable people that open carry is a loophole they forgot to close. But never fear, we can make this minor fix to the Second Amendment for the safety of all.

Of course, the open carrying of firearms is not a loophole in the Constitution. At the time, virtually all firearms were carried openly. It wasnt possible to carry them any other way. It wasnt until firearms became compact enough to conceal that concealed carry became an issue. Consequently, laws were drafted to require permits to ensure that the scary person next to you couldnt be carrying a hidden firearm unless properly screened and trained. (We can debate the constitutionality of such regulations another time.)

My point is, we need to read between the lines to avoid the snares set by clever shifts in language.

Mark Sherbine

Portage

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Letter to the editor | Don't be fooled by changes in language - TribDem.com