Is the intent of the 2nd to secure a free state from outsiders or from insiders? I really don't know, but always thought it was the latter.
"Is the intent of the 2nd to secure a free state from outsiders or from insiders? I really don't know, but always thought it was the latter."
Without arms a civilian populace lives at the whim of its government. With arms the government (really the individual people in power) know they are there at the whim of the individuals. Nobody wants a civil war or other violent action. When a government starts focusing on what its law abiding citizens are doing its a sure sign of trouble though.
The first action of most distators is to take away individuals firearms.