Posted on 06/03/2008 12:07:26 PM PDT by neverdem
The Clinton-Obama Battle Continues
Does the Second Amendment Provide the Right to Bear Arms? U.S. Adults Think So
From time to time, Ill ping on noteworthy articles about politics, foreign and military affairs. FReepmail me if you want on or off my list.
It is only “vague” if you let it be so....
We must argue on the plain basis of fact, not allowing the injection of “vagueness” or any other such nonsense.
The foregone conlusion to any reasonably educated, thinking person should be quite obvious:
A nation (free state) requires a force to protect (secure ) it (both the state and the free conditions it enjoys); the means being a militia (a non-government force made up of stakeholders). Therefore the citizens (the people) who established it (the “free state) have the right to keep and carry thier OWN arms to do the former.
Never let the anti’s allow you to defend the 2A it self-it says what it means; no legalese required.
Note that the 2A does not grant the right, it merely puts it into words.
The right being spoken of reflects back clearly on the “inalienable, self-evident” rights God bestowed on (all) men (declared in the Preamble). Nothing less, nothing more (as if there could be).
God Bless, Keep it simple.
(The other side gets worked up over simple, so let’s keep making the argument-maybe they’ll all have a stroke....)
My understanding of the meaning of regulated in use at the time was practiced, drilled or trained. As in a Well trained militia.
Oh, also, Under the Militia Act of 1792 (IIRC) all able bodied men were (maybe still ARE?) members of the unorganzied militia. The ARNG is not the militia that clashed the redcoats at Lexington-Concord. It was created as an arm of the US Army (FED GOV) by the Dick Act (IIRC) in 1915 (IIRC).
There currently is no “well regulated militia” in the form referenced by the 2A and many other aspects of of our early nation.... They were all federalized by the above Act-stripping away the states ability to field a force w/o interference of the FEDGOV. Imagine a Governor activating his NG for a state purpose, to counter the act, the Army (FEDGOV) simply activates them and make the US ARMY on thier uniforms a reality-with a new chain of command.... Who do you think pays and equips the ARNG? States? NOT!
“Regulation” in military terms denote practised, trained, NOT “controlled” as in common usage of today.
Once again, God Bless
Does that mean my PDW (personal defense weapon) isn't covered?
BM`d
Another Great Thread on our Nation’s greatest Heirloom!
Halbrook has very foolishly gone down a false trail here and is in deep doo-doo if some anti-gunner challenges him on it.
"to wear; name; to bear arms in a coat"; refers to the other meaning of "bear arms - the right to display a coat of arms"
Of course in essence the granting of a coat of arms was equivalent to an unrestricted carry license - it gave the holder the right to carry whatever arms they chose, wherever and under what circumstances they chose (and granted a similar right to all their acknowledged descendants in perpetuity)
Those not possessing "a coat of arms" - ie commoners, could be charged if suspected of carrying for unlawful purpose, ie poaching or engaged in insurrection (gentlefolk could shoot whatever game they liked and had to be charged with treason)
However all men were required to keep militia arms under common law
By the Assize of Arms of 1181, Henry II required all free men to possess arms, according to their class.2Edward's 1285 Statute of Westminster also extended those militia obligations to the "un-free" - Villeins and SerfsBut the militia had police duties as well as military. In 1285, Edward required "that every man shall have in his house arms for keeping the peace according to the ancient assize," and holding himself ready for service when summoned. Edward also provided for biannual inspection of those arms.3
You are right (see my above)
“Im pretty sure that the Democrats did it... @ssmunches.. LOL”
Funny thing, Thomas Jefferson founded the Democratic Party. How far they have strayed from his vison...
free State has always meant to me, not the condition of a body politic, but the nature of man being FREE... and not enslaved... read that way would mean that an armed man is a free man...
security of a free State...
an individual right and reward... lose the right and one loses his freedom...
teeman
BUMP!
Thanks for the ping!
Were cannon very expensive at the time of the Civil War?
That assumes the government has the authority to allow you to exercise your rights. That is a contradiction. The government didn't grant me that right, and hence cannot take it away.
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒE
I think they are pretty expensive to build in any war. The handful of private citizens that owned them during the revolutionary war, and allowed them to be placed in service to fight the British, were all very wealthy men.
Spend some time reading the "bills of rights" of the "Articles of Confederation" STATE Constitutions. The best exposition was "The PEOPLE have the right to keep and bear arms, for defense of themselves and their own state, and the taking of game." I "believe" that was from Connecticut's BOR, but am not absolutely sure.
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