[Travis McGee]

Why not just go straight to the primary author of the Bill of Rights, George Mason, who defined the militia this way at the Virginia convention to ratify the constitution:

"I ask sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials."

This has been turned completely on its head, and now the fedgov wants ONLY public officials (FBI, BATF etc) to be able to possess "militia weapons".

***********************

George Mason, in case the above was not clear enough, also said:

"To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them."

And I don't think he was advocating that the government should endeavor to enslave the people in that context, as the 9th Circuit Court might choose to read it.

[Frohickey]

"I ask sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials."

So that is it all along... Public officials are not the militia, and so, they are prohibited from owning arms. Its all about gun-envy. "If I can't have guns, neither can you!" :)

[PatrioticAmerican]

This would be interesting, except that I highly doubt the USSC will consider such an explosive issue. They really are a bunch of politicial law **ssies.

[Mulder]

Thanks for the ping and the quotes. I've added them to my "favorite quotes" document.

With the 9th ruling against the individual Right to keep and bear arms, and the 5th ruling for it, I guess the Supreme Court will eventually have to make a ruling.

That ruling will play in role in just how quickly (and if) certain 'irreconcilable differences' come to a head.