Melt all the guns. Now.

And give every one of them to local artists so they can make public sculpture. This is what I personally believe should be done. By the federal government. With Jim Doyle's help. Starting yesterday.

On the other hand, it's practically self-evident that the United States Constitution guarantees an individual right to keep and bear arms. And among the purposes protected by that right is self-defense.

In fact, I would go even further than have Supreme Court Justices Scalia and Thomas and assert that the Constitution protects an individual right to peace of mind and sound conscience, and if an American insists that achieving peace of mind or sound conscience requires sleeping with a loaded handgun under her pillow in her home, then no political entity should have the power to prevent her.

Whether she ever actually needs to use it in self-defense or not.

Her right is a constitutional one, a fundamental one, a natural one, a God-given one ... whatever you like. Any of those will suffice.

So why do conservative Republicans appear to have such a hard time believing that Sonia Sotomayor is perfectly capable of separating her personal opinions from her powers, duties, and obligations as an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court?

I have a few ideas why, none of which are particularly complimentary. However, as it has been written and so shall it be, that if you don't have anything good to say, then don't say anything at all. Selah.