Uphold, rather than second-guess, the Constitution

George F. Will writes in his March 28 column ["A citizenship birthright? Maybe not."] that the 14th Amendment should not apply to the children of illegal immigrants born in the United States because "in 1868 there were and never had been any illegal immigrants because no law had ever restricted immigration." By that reasoning, the Second Amendment should not apply to semiautomatic weapons because in 1789 there were and never had been any semiautomatic weapons and the First Amendment should not apply to communication on the Internet, television or radio because in 1789 there were and never had been any forms of electronic communication.

Rather than second-guessing the intent (or, in this case, the words) of the Constitution and its amendments, Mr. Will should concentrate his efforts on upholding the Constitution when it is neither convenient nor easy.

Hilary Stathes, Laurel