[Liberty Rattler]

Sir,

US Constitution, Article 1, sec 8,:

"The congress shall have the power...

(among other things)

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions."

So far as the Constitution is concerned, that is the reason for maintaining an armed militia, not for overthrow of the government.

When you couch your belief in such terms, it only plays into the hands of the enemy.

[flashbunny]

So when the founding fathers expressed it as their belief, and rationale for the second amendment, they were playing into the hands of the enemy?

"what country can preserve it's liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? let them take arms."

Thomas Jefferson to William Smith

[coloradan]

If you are correct, what does the part about the "being necessary to the security of a free state" mean in the Second Amendment? In other words, how exactly is freedom established if the government calls all the shots? E.g. Tianamen Square.

[Thumper1960]

Actually, the Founders believed that an armed population was essential in keeping those elected in their place, on their toes and interested in doing the peoples business.

In the words of the 3rd president, Thomas Jefferson:"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."

Make what you will of Mr. Jefferson's words.

[Wonder Warthog]

"So far as the Constitution is concerned, that is the reason for maintaining an armed militia, not for overthrow of the government."

Yes, but it is only ONE of the founding documents of our goverment. The other is the "Declaration of Independence", which IS where the idea comes from. You MUST read the first listed document in the context of the second.

[driftdiver]

"So far as the Constitution is concerned, that is the reason for maintaining an armed militia, not for overthrow of the government."

The key point people have trouble with is that our Government gets its powers FROM the people. Powers not given to the Government are retained by the People. And of course the People got the power from the Creator.