When contemplating Americans’ Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms, proponents of civilian disarmament often wave the bloody shirt and wail “what about our right to safety?” There is, of course, no such thing. How could there be a right to safety? The world is not a safe place. As we’ve seen throughout history, citizens who cede power to government in the name of personal safety are paving the road to hell. But hey, what’s this? “Zimbabwe’s Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai cast his vote in a one-day referendum Saturday on a new constitution that all main political parties have backed,” cbc.ca reports. And wouldn’t you just know it? The African nation’s new constitution includes a right to personal security. To wit . . .
Every person has the right to bodily and psychological integrity, which includes the right:
- to freedom from all forms of violence from public or private sources;
- subject to any other provision of this Constitution, to make decisions concerning reproduction;
- not to be subjected to medical or scientific experiments, or to the extraction or use of their bodily tissue, without their informed consent.
A freedom from all forms of violence! Awesome! Does that include verbal violence? What about kids who don’t want to play contact sports? No wiggle room there!
Just in case number 52 is a bit broad, Zimbabwe’s new constitution also includes a right to life and human dignity. And acknowledges its citizen’s right to freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, including slavery or servitude.
So, where’s Zimbabweans’ right to keep and bear arms? I’ll tell you where: nowhere.
Which raises an interesting question: can you have a constitution that protects freedom and dignity without the right to armed self-defense? Sure you can! Ah, but will it work? Will the right to keep and bear arms-less constitution end the genocide, torture, rape and murder of Zim’s citizens?
I’m thinking no. Meanwhile, God bless America.