Quote:
Originally posted by archer
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
....... the text is crystal clear........
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Not necessarily so....
Notice the grammar.. It can easily be argued that, "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state" is 1 of a list of 2 rights, with the 2nd right, "the right of the people to keep and bear arms". This is merited by the comma separating the two and the final comma, which would not be necessary if it were one item.
But even it the other side held true...:'' It was upon this force that the States could rely for defense and securing of the laws, on a force that ''comprised all males physically capable of acting in concert for the common defense,'' who, ''when called for service . . .
were expected to appear bearing arms supplied by themselves and of the kind in common use at the time.''
The militia was comprised of 'the people' or 'the citizens'.. and when called upon, mustered in an organized fashion with their
own guns.