The meaning of “militia” in the Second Amendment

[livingston]

The meaning of “militia” in the Second Amendment
This is the second article examining contributions to our understanding of the Constitution from the three brand new volumes of the Documentary History of the Ratification of the Constitution of the United States.

My first article observed that probably the greatest contribution of these three new volumes is reproduction, in indexed and easy-to-use hard copy form, of four essays by Tench Coxe.

Coxe was a Pennsylvania businessman, economist, and member of the Confederation Congress who later served as our first assistant secretary of the treasury. During late 1787 and throughout 1788 he wrote a series of essays urging the Constitution’s ratification. Coxe wrote under several pseudonyms, but all four essays in the new volumes were signed “A Pennsylvanian.”

Coxe’s essays were widely popular, and they unquestionably helped reconcile the American people to the new Constitution. Their analysis of the Constitution’s meaning help us reconstruct the original understanding behind the document.
More at ...
https://tenthamendmentcenter.com/2019/04/06/the-meaning-of-militia-in-the-second-amendment/

 

[ProgSpear]

Excellent find! Thanks for posting.

 

[Deplorable Me]

Many on the libtard side argue that the concept of the unorganized militia does not exist and that the 2A only applies to persons directly organized and supervised by the government. When things go bad we do not have time to wait on the government to train people. We have to rely on existing skill sets, many of which were learned over a lifetime.

During WWII from the ranks of civilians in the villages 20,000 person from the "unorganized" militia came together (ie: organized) quickly to defend Alaska and Alaska's war resources. Bunch of skilled hunter-survivalist acclimated to the land ready to kick some Japanese ass. Nothing more dedicated and possibly lethal than a person defending their own home. I've seen documentaries that indicate in the beginning these "citizens" brought their own 30.06's to the field and dressed in their own arctic clothing.


Alaska Territorial Guard - Wikipedia
Alaska Territorial Guard - Wikipedia



Alaska Territorial Guard - Google Search

 

[byron]

I don't see what the problem as to the meaning of militia the last words of the 2nd say it in simple english, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. meaning as it starts We the people and that is us.

 

[Defilade]

Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birth-right of an American.

I'll take one machine gun for $400 Alex.

 

[Tisto]

I'll take one machine gun for $400 Alex.

At $400, give me three of them !

 

[Mr. terzmo]

isn't the militia unorganized until organized and then unless kept organized, becomes unorganized again ?

 

[Shadow2]

I revert to my stand by response.
MAKE NO MISTAKE! Gun grabbers know exactly what the 2nd Amendment means. If it where a collective states right they would have no need to claim the right is antiquated and that it needed to be amended would they.

 

[Cooolone]

"SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED"

And the "RIGHTS" are applicable to "the PEOPLE"

that's all...

 

[spat]

I'll let the founders speak for themselves.

• "I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials."
  — George Mason, in Debates in Virginia Convention on Ratification of the Constitution, Elliot, Vol. 3, June 16, 1788

• "The right of the people to keep and bear ... arms shall not be infringed. A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the best and most natural defense of a free country ..."
  -- James Madison, I Annals of Congress 434, June 8, 1789

• "And that the said Constitution be never construed to authorize Congress ... to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens, from keeping their own arms.... "
  --Samuel Adams

 

[spat]

I revert to my stand by response.
MAKE NO MISTAKE! Gun grabbers know exactly what the 2nd Amendment means. If it where a collective states right they would have no need to claim the right is antiquated and that it needed to be amended would they.

When I get into a discussion with them, I ask what exactly a "collective" right to bear arms looks like ?

Do they actually contend that it means the government isn't allowed to disarm itself ? If that isn't what it means, who does it apply to, and who are they being protected from ?

 

[Marine Cpl]

I'll let the founders speak for themselves.

Nonsense. It's whatever a Supreme Court judge says it is.