Quote:
Originally Posted by slapass
I am amazed we all make the assumption that they are not referring to the military. Isn't the militia and the military the same thing in their time. The US didn't have a standing army, we had a militia. It is totally possible that this one line that we are all excited about is being misinterpreted. It doesn't mention tyranny or uprising or anything like that. The security of the state would be against outside forces not the state itself. Not sure if we have the notes of the guys who came up with it.
"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."
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a little context for those of you typing when you should be reading.
The United States Supreme Court has defined the Militia in clear and unambiguous terms:
The Militia is all males physically capable of acting for the common defense, expected to appear bearing arms supplied by themselves, arms of the kind in common use at the time, part of the "ORDINARY MILITARY EQUIPMENT." U.S. v Miller (1939)
"All citizens capable of bearing arms constitute the reserve Militia... The States cannot, even laying the Constitutional provision (Second Amendment) out of view, prohibit THE PEOPLE from keeping and bearing arms." Presser v Illinois (1886)
"Do not separate text from historical background. If you do you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution." - James Madison
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government." - Thomas Jefferson
"The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the U.S. from keeping their own arms." - Samuel Adams
"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both." - Benjamin Franklin
"The best we can hope for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed." - Alexander Hamilton
"The great object is that every man be armed." - Patrick Henry
"Those that hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do not." - Patrick Henry
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." - Thomas Jefferson
"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants." - Thomas Jefferson
"Americans have the right and advantage of being armed--unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." - James Madison
"To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them." - George Madison
"Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples? liberty?s teeth." - George Washington
"When firearms go, all go. We need them every hour." - George Washington
"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference--they deserve a place of honor with all that is good." - George Washington
uninformed children and politicians are the only types of people who are confused or pretend to be confused by the founding father's intent.