The Voice of Calm

Now that the militia has given way to the National Guard, there remains a responsibility to accept reasonable regulation of ownership, transfer and use of firearms. [More]

Really?  "Impartial reviewer" Cook is dragging this old saw out for an audience that may not have heard it before? So we should just ignore this?

Such a reading fails to note that the Framers used the term "militia" to relate to every citizen capable of bearing arms, and that Congress has established the present National Guard under its power to raise armies, expressly stating that it was not doing so under its power to organize and arm the militia.

Mr. Pynchon?  Do you have any relevant observations about this?

I guess lies told in a calm voice are intended to provide a soothing counterbalance to all the shrieking going on.

Gee, that's funny.  Do you see a place to comment over there at The Times, so maybe readers of this book review can be set straight?  Or is anyone who regularly turns to them to stay informed a lost cause anyway?