One reason some people may think that the Second Amendment is not an individual right is that several lower courts, in correctly judging that convicted felons loose that right when they decide to break the law falsely said that they could not serve in the military. Liberals somehow made the jump to the “only organized militia” defense. People in jail also have no right to carry a weapon!
Chief RZ - 10:03am on 03/27/2008
What people forget when trying to decide if the right to keep and bear (wear) arms is only for members of an organized militia or if it is for individuals is this: In those days the militias included just about every man in a state (women fought too), they all would come together as a state militia when needed, but they brought their own weapons which they carried daily for self defense and hunting. They didn’t wear uniforms unless they were in the formal, regular military and a militia (an army of soldiers who are civilians but take military training and can serve full-time during emergencies) was not part of the regulat military.
So when the state needed help defending itself against enemies foreign or domestic, even the federal government if they felt the need to resist its tyranny, would call together their well armed neighbors, to bring their weapons to the fight. Thus, and this is my point, it was and is necessary that every citizen have the lawful right to own their own and bear (wear) about pistols or shoulder weapons (arms), so when needed in an emergency they could participate in the defense of their neighbors and country.
Our Founding Fathers said in the Bill of Rights, it is the right of every citizen to own and even wear about their own arms so that when called upon in an emergency, not having to go home to get their arms, they could together form such a state militia. Any other interpretation would do great harm to the history of this Constitutional Right and much injury to the clear words in the Second Amendment to the peril of our liberty.
Neiman - 10:03am on 03/27/2008
If I remember my Civics 101 the Bill of Rights list 10 rights, GIVEN BY GOD, to men. So it makes no sense to me why God would only give me the right to bear arms if I was in a Militia.
Greg - 10:03am on 03/27/2008
Keep and bear arms. Keep as in keep in your house, Bear which means carry the arms.
The Whistler - 11:03am on 03/27/2008
It seems as there are no “gun control nuts” out here. Good.
Chief RZ - 12:03pm on 03/27/2008
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 one word that gun control advocates always dwell upon is “regulated”. Lets us ponder the meaning, in 1787, of that word. Lets have the current def first.
“reg·u·late (rgy-lt)
tr.v. reg·u·lat·ed, reg·u·lat·ing, reg·u·lates
1. To control or direct according to rule, principle, or law.
2. To adjust to a particular specification or requirement: regulate temperature.
3. To adjust (a mechanism) for accurate and proper functioning.
4. To put or maintain in order: regulate one’s eating habits.”
Seems fairly straight forward, does it not? I fall under the “well regulated” rubric, being a trained rifleman and veteran of military service. And making no secret of possessing arms and my willingness to muster in time of need.
From the research I have done over the last 15 years “regulate” as applied to militias, and citizens in general, was vaguely defined. In general it was meant as trained, and also encompassed the holding of a recorded muster. A listing of all available men and what arms they could supply to the formation, above and beyond what was held by the local government. Which usually was not very much.
ADL has a copious amount of information on this subject. Feel free to peruse it.
As of the mid-1770s Major Roger’s writings on the subject of militia were the standard. Although a Loyalist, he was still considered a hero by many, his rather disreputable personal life not withstanding.
So, fellow militiamen, and women, lets get together and do some “regulating” this weekend!
2Hotel9 - 06:03am on 03/28/2008
Hotel....
It’s always amusing (and frustrating) when the left takes what is pretty straightforward language in the 2nd Amendment and twists it to serve their purpose, which is to disarm the average American citizen.
Sadly, their argument boils down to a childish “Nuh-Uh!!!!” and litle else.
Pilgrim - 07:03am on 03/28/2008
Pil, did you here about the former Green Beret in Florida who was Court Martialed for using an insufficiently large caliber weapon on a burglar?
2nd Amendment shall not be infringed upon.
One reason some people may think that the Second Amendment is not an individual right is that several lower courts, in correctly judging that convicted felons loose that right when they decide to break the law falsely said that they could not serve in the military. Liberals somehow made the jump to the “only organized militia” defense. People in jail also have no right to carry a weapon!
What people forget when trying to decide if the right to keep and bear (wear) arms is only for members of an organized militia or if it is for individuals is this: In those days the militias included just about every man in a state (women fought too), they all would come together as a state militia when needed, but they brought their own weapons which they carried daily for self defense and hunting. They didn’t wear uniforms unless they were in the formal, regular military and a militia (an army of soldiers who are civilians but take military training and can serve full-time during emergencies) was not part of the regulat military.
So when the state needed help defending itself against enemies foreign or domestic, even the federal government if they felt the need to resist its tyranny, would call together their well armed neighbors, to bring their weapons to the fight. Thus, and this is my point, it was and is necessary that every citizen have the lawful right to own their own and bear (wear) about pistols or shoulder weapons (arms), so when needed in an emergency they could participate in the defense of their neighbors and country.
Our Founding Fathers said in the Bill of Rights, it is the right of every citizen to own and even wear about their own arms so that when called upon in an emergency, not having to go home to get their arms, they could together form such a state militia. Any other interpretation would do great harm to the history of this Constitutional Right and much injury to the clear words in the Second Amendment to the peril of our liberty.
If I remember my Civics 101 the Bill of Rights list 10 rights, GIVEN BY GOD, to men. So it makes no sense to me why God would only give me the right to bear arms if I was in a Militia.
Keep and bear arms. Keep as in keep in your house, Bear which means carry the arms.
It seems as there are no “gun control nuts” out here. Good.
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 one word that gun control advocates always dwell upon is “regulated”. Lets us ponder the meaning, in 1787, of that word. Lets have the current def first.
“reg·u·late (rgy-lt)
tr.v. reg·u·lat·ed, reg·u·lat·ing, reg·u·lates
1. To control or direct according to rule, principle, or law.
2. To adjust to a particular specification or requirement: regulate temperature.
3. To adjust (a mechanism) for accurate and proper functioning.
4. To put or maintain in order: regulate one’s eating habits.”
Seems fairly straight forward, does it not? I fall under the “well regulated” rubric, being a trained rifleman and veteran of military service. And making no secret of possessing arms and my willingness to muster in time of need.
From the research I have done over the last 15 years “regulate” as applied to militias, and citizens in general, was vaguely defined. In general it was meant as trained, and also encompassed the holding of a recorded muster. A listing of all available men and what arms they could supply to the formation, above and beyond what was held by the local government. Which usually was not very much.
ADL has a copious amount of information on this subject. Feel free to peruse it.
As of the mid-1770s Major Roger’s writings on the subject of militia were the standard. Although a Loyalist, he was still considered a hero by many, his rather disreputable personal life not withstanding.
So, fellow militiamen, and women, lets get together and do some “regulating” this weekend!
Hotel....
It’s always amusing (and frustrating) when the left takes what is pretty straightforward language in the 2nd Amendment and twists it to serve their purpose, which is to disarm the average American citizen.
Sadly, their argument boils down to a childish “Nuh-Uh!!!!” and litle else.
Pil, did you here about the former Green Beret in Florida who was Court Martialed for using an insufficiently large caliber weapon on a burglar?