Chris Cantwell Believes 2nd Amendment Permits U.S. Citizens To Own Nuclear Weapons

Chris Cantwell, who is seeking the nomination of the Suffolk County Libertarian Party and the endorsement of the Republican Liberty Caucus to run for Congress from the 1st C.D. (New York), has recently posted his belief that the 2nd Amendment currently grants a constitutional right to all citizens to privately own nuclear weapons. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution reads as follows:

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.

On May 2, 2010, Mr. Cantwell posted the following:

I’ve had the nuclear 2nd Amendment discussion before and I agree, the Constitution does not define arms, so I see legitimacy to the argument that the 2nd Amendment, as written, would provide such a protection as radical as that may be, a Constitutional Amendment defining arms would be required to outlaw private ownership of nuclear weapons.

Chris Cantwell is seeking the nomination of the Republican and Libertarian Parties to run for United States Congress from the 1st Congressional District, which is located exclusively in Suffolk County.

Jeff Grizlo, a Suffolk County resident who is also Executive Vice-President of Rising Action, said:

This guy Cantwell seems to lack common sense! The Founders could not have anticipated the creation of weapons of mass destruction. Just because the Second Amendment doesn't define "arms" doesn't mean that a Constitutional Amendment is necessary before the private ownership of nuclear weapons can be prohibited. If Kooky Cantwell ran the country, people would have the right to purchase nuclear weapons on eBay or at Amazon.com. How can anyone take this man seriously and actually consider electing him to Congress?

Dr. Tom Stevens, LPQC State Representative, said:

In fairness to Chris Cantwell, he did say he would support a Constitutional Amendment to ban the private ownership of nuclear weapons but I am concerned about Cantwell's recognition of the constitutional right of people to purchase nuclear weapons and how many such weapons will be purchased by enemies of the United States until such an amendment passes.

Chris Cantwell was recently elected at the LPNY State Convention held on Saturday, April 24, 2010 in Albany, New York to serve as an At-Large Member of the LPNY State Committee.