Blacks, Keeping-And-Bearing Guns, Travel & History

It is generally agreed that Chief Justice Roger B. Tanney was wrong in declaring that Blacks were not to be declared as citizens with the protections of the Constitution.

However, the news of the last 20-plus years as to too many Blacks and guns might be considered in terms of the following.

• Dred Scott v. Sandford, 60 U.S. 393 (1857) - The court ruled Scott did not enjoy the protection of the Bill of Rights because of his racial background. However, in its ruling, it implies all free men do have the right to bear arms by indicating what would happen if he was indeed afforded full protection:

"It would give to persons of the negro race, ... the right to enter every other State whenever they pleased, ... the full liberty of speech in public and in private upon all subjects upon which its own citizens might speak; to hold public meetings upon political affairs, and to keep and carry arms wherever they went."  (Emphasis added)

We should also note that, at that time, citizens were entitled to "...carry arms wherever they went".