[urtax$@work]

The following twenty-seven words of the Second Amendment have caused quite a bit of confusion for the past two hundred years: A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed (Landau 44).

I have seen also "the right of the INDIVIDUAL" many times in the quoating of the constitution.. Does anyone have information to post to educate the rest of us as to why there are two versions ? Either way I see it as the "not goverment" part of the country that has the right.

[supercat]

I have seen also "the right of the INDIVIDUAL" many times in the quoating of the constitution.. Does anyone have information to post to educate the rest of us as to why there are two versions ? Either way I see it as the "not goverment" part of the country that has the right.

Perhaps someone is confusing the Second Amendment with some similar language in state constitutions? Illinois', for example, reads IIRC, "Subject only to the police power, the right of the individual person to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Unfortunately, the "police power" seems to have been defined to include just about everything the government wants to do.

[marcde]

If this debate is ever given rightful credence and opened in a public forum, the arguments of the founding fathers will be brought to the table, in thier entirety, without interpretation. Then and only then, will the truth and severity of the second amendment be known. No agenda will be able to contort it for thier gain. These men were escaping tyranical rule, they made sure it would never happen again. How dare anyone in power tell me I cant protect myself and my family, the founders of this nation were overwhelmingly clear as to thier motives surrounding the second amendment. Know who you put in power, ideaology is not a valid reason to put leaders in power.

[TERMINATTOR]

The version of second amendment quoted is not the "real" one. There is only one comma in the Second Amendment. I've also seen a version where the s in state is not capitalized. This implies that they were refering to a "state of freedom" rather than a nation/country.

United States Government Printing Office - Second Amendment--Bearing Arms
Old FR thread on commas: The Second Amendment and Commas (Repost- Revised)
Second Amendment Sisters: QUESTION ON THE COMMA IN THE 2nd A