Twenty-Seven words, so simple and straight forward, yet some will question its meaning.
Lets look at the two parts of the 2nd Amendment.
"A well regulated Milita, being necessary to the security of a free State,..." This is known as a declaratory clause, a "preamble" if you will.
"... the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." This is known as a restrictive clause, it states the core meaning of the amendment and the main point of it.
As you can see, those fourteen words are very clear, there is no question to their meaning or intention. Where the confusion comes in, is the word "militia". According to the dictionary the definition of militia is as follows
1.
soldiers who are also civilians: an army of soldiers who are civilians but take military training and can serve full-time during emergencies
2.
reserve military force: a reserve army that is not part of the regular armed forces but can be called up in an emergency
3.
unauthorized quasi-military group: an unauthorized group of people who arm themselves and conduct quasi-military training
This is the reason there is so much discussion about the 2nd amendment. There are three options to choose from, and this provides alot of wiggle room in its meaning. Fortunately, there is help, that is often ignored by the anti-gun believers.
According to the way the United States of America defines militia is as follows.
"The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Gaurd."
As you can, see there is nothing to be confused about. We are the militia, "We the people" are the militia of the united states. As such, every one of us is guaranteed the right to keep and bear arms, and that right "shall not be infringed". The importance of the 2nd amendment is downplayed more than any other right you have. This right was not acknowledged with the intention of hunting, or a "sporting purpose". It is there to ensure the people have the ability to defend themselves from their own government. Without guns, we do not have the abillity to ensure our government obeys the rest of the constitution. Words and votes can be ignored without a force backing those words and votes.
‘‘Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are inevitably ruined’’
-Patrick Henry
‘‘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; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.’’
-Jefferson's "Commonplace Book," 1774-1776, quoting from On Crimes and Punishment, by criminologist Cesare Beccaria, 1764
‘‘I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials.’’
‘‘To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.’’
-George Mason
Clearly our forefathers believed the people themselves are to be armed, to defend themselves and each other from all threats. Clearly they believed disarming the citizenry was the most expedient way to making them peasants. WE do not serve the government it serves us, and to keep it this way we must arm ourselves and persevere to protect our right to own firearms. If we fail at this than we are at the mercy of our government, we are no longer citizens, but servants. We will no longer control our government, it will control us.
-Patrick Henry
‘‘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; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.’’
-Jefferson's "Commonplace Book," 1774-1776, quoting from On Crimes and Punishment, by criminologist Cesare Beccaria, 1764
‘‘I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials.’’
‘‘To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.’’
-George Mason
Clearly our forefathers believed the people themselves are to be armed, to defend themselves and each other from all threats. Clearly they believed disarming the citizenry was the most expedient way to making them peasants. WE do not serve the government it serves us, and to keep it this way we must arm ourselves and persevere to protect our right to own firearms. If we fail at this than we are at the mercy of our government, we are no longer citizens, but servants. We will no longer control our government, it will control us.
