"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Nor - if you believe the NRA and the Republicans - shall the rights of various weapons manufacturers and dealers in the US to profit from sale and trafficking in any form of lethal weapon be restricted in any way.

Which is why the Mexican drug cartels shop for their weapons in the US. US Gun laws are vastly more permissive than the laws in Mexico so it is easier to buy AK 47's here and smuggle them into Mexico than it is to bribe the appropriate officials in Mexico. See today's NY Times for details.

So here's a thought for all of you NRA members out there: Your contributions are helping to support the drug trade and terrorism. Good work.