Restore the right to arms in and on federal property

In clear violation of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, 18 USC 930(d)(3) prohibits responsible adults from carrying a "firearm or other dangerous weapon" into any federal facility with an exception for cases "incident to hunting or other lawful purposes." When t comes to self-protection the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and firearms; National Park Service; Corps of Engineers; and the other anti-gun denizens of the central government have read this essential exception out of the law -- by executive fiat.

With 39 CFR 232.1(l), the US Postal Service is even more restrictive: "No person while on postal property may carry firearms, other dangerous or deadly weapons, or explosives, either openly or concealed, or store the same on postal property, except for official purposes."

What is it that congressmen and unelected regulators don't understand about the simple and clear phrase "shall not be infringed?"

I can accept a restriction on arms in a limited number of designated places where competent security screening and armed officers are in place to substitute for the disarming of responsible adults (eg court rooms, airport secure areas, etc.). But I cannot tolerate the disarming of responsible Americans when the entity doing the disarming fails to provide comparable or better security.

Compromising the protections of the Bill of Rights is such a severe threat to Liberty that no right identified in the Bill of Rights should ever be compromised in any way other than through specific legislation from Congress or an amendment to the Constitution. Authority to infringe constitutionally-enumerated rights must never be delegated or assigned to anyone outside of Congress!

Of course, any rational person knows and understands that all restrictions on arms only affect responsible people. History and reason indicate that those bent on disobeying laws against violence also disobey laws against arms.

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) has offered an amendment to the Postal Reform Act (S.1486) in the Governmental Affairs Committee. If adopted, this amendment will restore the right of responsible adults to drive into a post office parking lot with a gun and to carry it into the post office and other federal facilities to the extent state law would allow the carry of that firearm in any other venue.

However, I would like to see Senator Paul amend his amendment to address "arms" instead of "firearms". (The Second Amendment protects the keeping and bearing of "arms". Pocket knives are "arms" too!)

This amendment is a tiny step in the right direction back to following the US Constitution which every congressman, president, judge, attorney, political appointee, and bureaucrat swore to follow and protect. I ardently support this move.