>If you reach the point where you have to give the government that sort of power, then you’re no longer a free people, and now have something resembling a feudal totalitarianism.
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>If the people will not engage themselves in the service of their own self interests, and the protection of all they hold dear, then they have ceased to be worthy of our founding form of government, and deserve whatever heinous tyranny befalls them.
Then please explain to me the Militia Act of 1792 — It mandated that certain people be enrolled in the militia; further, it required that they themselves furnish their equipment. Note that this was less than twenty years from 1776 (Declaration of Independence) AND only 5 years from the Constitution’s ratification (1787); and it was held to be Constitutional under Art 1, Sec 8. — and why it was *not* tyranny.
See: http://www.constitution.org/mil/mil_act_1792.htm
It's an "Act", not a part of our Founding Charter, or of the Declaration of Independence, or the Federalist Papers, or the individual writings of the Founders, nor of Thomas Paine, or of anyone who spoke to our people's cause of freedom in that day.
In other words, it's not a part of our nation's Founding Principles. It's a statute law. Apparently one of the first in a long line of usurpations of Americans' individual, inalienable rights.
Now, you've brought up mentions of the militia in nearly every reply, which has given me the impression that you're a militia member, or you're some sort of advocate. That's fine, but here's the thing about a citizen militia - it needs to be a man's free choice to stand and serve in one - not a government mandate.
Men who are forced to serve in a military capacity are conscripts, not free men. They do not serve for a higher good and purpose - they serve because they have no choice.
Let free men make their own choice to form military units for their own protection against foreign OR domestic threats. Do not put them under the overarching rule of a government, which just may be the power they should stand against.
And while we're at it, let's not confuse this with our nation's Armed Forces.