[Hank Rearden]

The purpose of the Second Amendment is to ensure the ability of a free people to kill the government, should it become tyrannical.

Self-defense is a subset of that.

[photodawg]

The purpose of the Second Amendment is to ensure the ability of a free people to kill the government, should it become tyrannical.
Self-defense is a subset of that.
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Exactly right. Define your terms.

From Websters: militia, 1) any military force, b. later, any army composed of citizens rather than professional soldiers, called out in time of emergency. As you said, the ability of a free people to resist tyranny of government. Interesting that for so many it has come to mean the government's army.