Replies

I just wish that preamble was not there. It’s absence would solve a lot of problems.

It is really very simple. A grammatically identical sentence will show what the intent of the Founding Fathers was, as clear as day:

"A literate Electorate being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and read Books shall not be infringed."

This would clearly preserve the right to have books for all people, not just those who are adult registered voters.

In the same way, the Founders intended for teenage boys, old men, and able-bodied women to have the right to keep and bear arms, as they might be called upon to back up the militia of able-bodied male adults in a real emergency. In the case of the older boys, who would soon become full-fledged members of the militia, it was considered desirable that they report for duty already familiar with the use of firearms, and thus easily trained or "well-regulated" for militia service.

I would not be here today if not for this wise and humane Amendment. A great-great-grandmother of mine was attacked by Indians when she was home alone with her 7-year-old son and some younger children. She loaded their cap-and-ball rifles, and the eldest boy (my great-grandfather) fought off the attackers and killed one of them. It was no great trauma to the boy to kill a man who had been trying to kill him, and he was lauded for his bravery and good shooting. Some current inner-city dwellers would do well to follow their example.

-ccm

>>>>”A literate Electorate being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and read Books shall not be infringed.”

I’m sorry, but in a legal sense your argument is wrong.

re: the above, a much better provision would be “the right of the People to keep and read Books shall not be infringed,” without any preamble.

"I would not be here today if not for this wise and humane Amendment. "

And I'm sure the folks owned and used guns as part of their daily lives long before the American Revolution or the Bill of Rights/Constitution.

They didn't feel they needed permission to own and use guns or defend their lives whereever they happended to be when they were attacked. Many still live that way. If 2A wasn't on the books it would still be that way, I'm sure. The 2A must hae been an after-thought, but a vital one written to insure that the new government would never forget that they were accountable to the people, who retained every right and means to keep their elected officials from acting outside the narrow confines of their mandate.