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To: groanup
As much as I like seeing a student realize the importance of gun ownership and the 2nd Amendment, I see a little bit of big goverment conformity here. Should we all have the same "government issued" weapon? Should we all wear little plaid uniforms too?

The Militia Act of 1792 was a federal law, adopted right after ratification of the Constitution, that made it MANDATORY for all male citizens between 18 and 45 to own a military-style rifle of a specified calibre:

I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is herein after excepted) shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the militia, by the Captain or Commanding Officer of the company, within whose bounds such citizen shall reside, and that within twelve months after the passing of this Act. And it shall at all time hereafter be the duty of every such Captain or Commanding Officer of a company, to enroll every such citizen as aforesaid, and also those who shall, from time to time, arrive at the age of 18 years, or being at the age of 18 years, and under the age of 45 years (except as before excepted) shall come to reside within his bounds; and shall without delay notify such citizen of the said enrollment, by the proper non-commissioned Officer of the company, by whom such notice may be proved. That every citizen, so enrolled and notified, shall, within six months thereafter, provide himself with a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, and a knapsack, a pouch, with a box therein, to contain not less than twenty four cartridges, suited to the bore of his musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of power and ball; or with a good rifle, knapsack, shot-pouch, and power-horn, twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a power of power; and shall appear so armed, accoutred and provided, when called out to exercise or into service, except, that when called out on company days to exercise only, he may appear without a knapsack. That the commissioned Officers shall severally be armed with a sword or hanger, and espontoon; and that from and after five years from the passing of this Act, all muskets from arming the militia as is herein required, shall be of bores sufficient for balls of the eighteenth part of a pound; and every citizen so enrolled, and providing himself with the arms, ammunition and accoutrements, required as aforesaid, shall hold the same exempted from all suits, distresses, executions or sales, for debt or for the payment of taxes.
In modern terms, this would translate into every citizen being required to own a rifle chambered for .223 or 7.62 NATO
32 posted on 10/21/2005 4:09:33 PM PDT by SauronOfMordor (I BELIEVE CONGRESSMAN WELDON!)
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To: SauronOfMordor; El Gato
I am commenting on this guys's thought pattern. Maybe he can't tell the difference between a God given right and an obligation.

BTW, cite all the references you want. The BOR was quoted as being among rights endowed by the Creator. The rights were enumerated as an amendment to the Constitution. There may have been subsequent or prior regulations requiring men to possess arms and even certain kinds of arms. The 2A simply addresses the inherent right.

43 posted on 10/21/2005 4:44:23 PM PDT by groanup (shred for Ian)
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