I continue to think that “well regulated” means adequately organized and equipped. Also, I think that the militia is everyone able to fight in a crisis.
To do that, they need to be able to bring a gun.
The above is an exact picture of late 1700’s America. Calling forth the militia is essentially telling the farmers to put down their hoes and to pick up their guns.
The 2d amendment points out both the individual and the national interest in having armed citizens. Self-defense is a God-given right, AND it is useful for free nations.
Agree with everything you said.
My concern is that if SCOTUS rules against the decision using the “collective right” argument then the floodgates of gun control will be open as every anti-2A dem in govt will be yelling that we have no need for private ownership as we already have a National Guard.
From my FR home page, an item I picked up from another FReeper:
The term “regulated” applied to clocks means “accurate in keeping time”. It made sense, particularly in 18th Century armies, to have to pay a lot of attention to how well soldiers could operate in massed formations. Soldiers had to be drilled to load, aim, and fire as one unit. You do NOT want the rifle next to you to be firing (and emitting a shower of sparks) while you are pouring gunpowder into your musket. Everybody had to do every step together with no screwups.
Not according to the Militia Act of 1792. Only white, male citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 need apply. And they had six months to come up with a gun once notified.
"The people" referenced in the second amendment addressed a very narrow group. Plus, the second amendment protected the RKBA of those people from federal infringement only.
Though decidedly inconvenient for liberals...