It is at best a fool's errand and at worst abject subversion to try to decipher the nuances and emanations hidden in the wording of the Second Amendment. The words are clear. The Founders' intent is precise and clear. If anyone doesn't believe that, all they need to do is actually read the Founding Fathers written words regarding arms, the populace's God given rights and the government:
"Americans have the right and advantage of being armed -- unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."
--James Madison
"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials."
-- George Mason
"A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."
-- George Washington
"False is the idea of utility that sacrifices a thousand real advantages for one imaginary or trifling inconvenience; that would take fire from men because it burns, and water because one may drown in it; that has no remedy for evils, except destruction. The laws that forbid the carrying of arms are laws of such a nature. They disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes....Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man."
--Thomas Jefferson's "Commonplace Book," 1774-1776, quoting 18th century criminologist Cesare Beccaria in "On Crimes and Punishment", 1764.
"Firearms stand next in importance to the Constitution itself. They are the American people's liberty teeth and keystone under independence... From the hour the Pilgrims landed to the present day, events, occurrences, and tendencies prove that to ensure peace, security, and happiness, the rifle and pistol are equally indispensable... The very atmosphere of firearms everywhere restrains evil interference; they deserve a place of honor with all that's good... A free people ought to be armed."
--George Washington, speech of January 7, 1790
"Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?"
--Patrick Henry
"No man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against the tyranny in government."
-- Thomas Jefferson
"The Constitution of most of our states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed."
--Thomas Jefferson.
"And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms... The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
-- THOMAS JEFFERSON, letter to William S. Smith, 1787, in 'Jefferson, On Democracy' (1939), p. 20
"The beauty of the second amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it."
--Thomas Jefferson
These gentlemen knew exactly what they were doing and saying, and used quite precise, clear words to create a foundation of our Constitutional Republic - not a democracy or mutual admiration society. It is exquisitely clear that their meaning and intent was that each and every single person- not militia, gun club, titled land owner or government officer- had the right to own, possess and carry arms as they saw fit, and was not to be "interpreted", regulated or "permitted" by some government bureaucrat. It's there in their own words. Anyone who can't read and understand their plain meaning should go back to skool and get some remedial reading tutoring- it's not written in a foreign language.
And your wonderful, prized CCW is an infringement, no matter how you cut it. After all, it's called a "permit" isn't it? God given rights need no government "permits".
"And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms... The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
-- THOMAS JEFFERSON, letter to William S. Smith, 1787, in 'Jefferson, On Democracy' (1939), p. 20
THANK YOU for this awesome post.
The above is one of my favorite
quotes from the founders.
L
Bogus quote.
"Are we at last brought to such humiliating and debasing degradation that we cannot be trusted with arms for our defense? Where is the difference between having our arms in possession and under our direction, and having them under the management of Congress? If our defense be the real object of having those arms, in whose hands can they be trusted with more propriety, or equal safety to us, as in our own hands?"
--Patrick Henry
True quote.
"No man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against the tyranny in government."
-- Thomas Jefferson
Probably Bogus
"The Constitution of most of our states (and of the United States) assert that all power is inherent in the people; that they may exercise it by themselves; that it is their right and duty to be at all times armed." --Thomas Jefferson.
"And what country can preserve its liberties, if its rulers are not warned from time to time, that this people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms... The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
-- THOMAS JEFFERSON, letter to William S. Smith, 1787, in 'Jefferson, On Democracy' (1939), p. 20
True quote and the best of the lot, IMHO.
"The beauty of the second amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it."
--Thomas Jefferson
Unverified, likely bogus.