Why does no one actually read the Second Amendment ?

[Uninformed and Compliant]

If you want to know what a militia is, simply look at your rural volunteer firehouse.
Remove all of the State and Federal mandates (OSHA, etc), and it's what a militia was. Franklin based the concept on a militia.

Anyone can make a fire department in NYS.

Anyone.

You can belong to as many fire departments as you can get into (modern LOSAP caveats notwithstanding).

Each fire department has internally developed policies, pre-plans, and procedures that are (hopefully) well rehearsed. The result of that is "well regulated".


Richard Henry Lee's experience during the French and Indian War pretty much sums up the essence of a militia.

West Virginia was a warzone. Lee wanted his local militia in Virginia to go help out, but the leadership refused.

Lee started his own militia, recruiting a bunch of guys from various existing ones.

They grabbed their kit, marched their asses to WV, and reported to the local militia leaders there.

The WV militias said, "Thanks for coming, it's good to know you've got our back. Go home."

Lee's crew marched back to VA, disbanded their militia, and simply returned to whatever militia they were already in before they left.

That is the nature of a Well Regulated Militia, right down to unilaterally making your own.

The War of 1812 drives the 2A home. The Brits would land anywhere they wanted and raid for supplies with impunity. NO government has the authority to compel citizenry to cede ANY advantage to those Royal Marines. NO government has the authority to compel citizenry to even give those Royal Marines a fair fight. Every person, every village and township has the natural right to absolutely wipe those heavily armed, well equipped and highly motivated Royal Marines off the map by every means possible, without limits.

 

[RedBreast21]

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Ok.

So can we report even ONE "well regulated Militia" in this Country ?

Historically, did we ever have one ?

Does the reasoning that "Militia" = "Army" hold water ?

Personally, I am thinking the National Guard was originally created to be controlled by each State Governor, and was to be largrely independent of the Federal Goverment.

But the 2A is so unclear.

What do you think it means ?

Are you for real? lol Nothing unclear at all. What is clear, is that many people don't take the time to research any of the same questions you have. The National Guard came many years later.

All of your answers can be found in the written word of the founders. There are some great books out there containing many of the letters from congress members entered into record. Not just the well known names but those not so well known.

There is a great video
Well worth the time.

Many forget that the founders wrote the constitution and the amendments for those at an 8th grade reading level. Now, imagine how far our educational system has fallen.

How scary is that. LOL

 

[nortatoga]

Are you for real? lol Nothing unclear at all. What is clear, is that many people don't take the time to research any of the same questions you have. The National Guard came many years later.

All of your answers can be found in the written word of the founders. There are some great books out there containing many of the letter from congress members entered into record. Not just the well known names but those not so well known.

There is a great video
Well worth the time.

Many forget that the founders wrote the constitution and the amendments for those at an 8th grade reading level. Now, imagine how far our educational system has fallen.

How scary is that. LOL

Great video I must have started to watch it at one time as it started about 20 min. in to it. Everyone here should watch it. @HEX this would make a good pinned video for member to reference.

 

[CaseHardened]

As far as I can see, any Militia is Constitutional, as long as it has Management (well regulated).

If it actually breaks laws, it would be subject to prosecution, of course.

But in these times, even a simple Neighborhood Watch (George Zimmerman) is too much for the Deep State to allow.

 

[Hochulsucks1234]

The 2nd Amendment is great and all, but the wording of it gives the enemy some fuel to sit there and use the words "militia" and "well regulated" against its true meaning.

It is best to consult the writings of James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Washington, and oher founding fathers as a reference manual for what the 2nd Amendment means. They were very clear on the purpose of posessing arms. The progressive liberals refuse to cite their ideas because they know the reason for the existence of the 2nd Amendment.

It is too bad that the words of the founding fathers could not be used as legal precedent. I mean hell Madison wrote most of the Consitution, it is only right to cite all his work!

 

[nortatoga]

The 2nd Amendment is great and all, but the wording of it gives the enemy some fuel to sit there and use the words "militia" and "well regulated" against its true meaning.

It is best to consult the writings of James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, Washington, and oher founding fathers as a reference manual for what the 2nd Amendment means. They were very clear on the purpose of posessing arms. The progressive liberals refuse to cite their ideas because they know the reason for the existence of the 2nd Amendment.

It is too bad that the words of the founding fathers could not be used as legal precedent. I mean hell Madison wrote most of the Consitution, it is only right to cite all his work!

Did you watch the video above (post #32)?

 

[OwnTheRide]

What do you think it means ?

What we think doesn't matter. It's what SCOTUS thinks that matters. In the Heller decision, they stated that "the militia" is "the people." I'm summarizing here, of course, but that's what it legally means today.

 

[libertysnake]

What I would give for a time machine to go back and tell those guys to drop the whole militia part.

 

[rockremoval]

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Ok.

So can we report even ONE "well regulated Militia" in this Country ?

Historically, did we ever have one ?

Does the reasoning that "Militia" = "Army" hold water ?

Personally, I am thinking the National Guard was originally created to be controlled by each State Governor, and was to be largrely independent of the Federal Goverment.

But the 2A is so unclear.

What do you think it means ?

The well regulated part meant at the time well supplied not regulated the way you mean. Language was different.

 

[dsdmmat]

As far as I can see, any Militia is Constitutional, as long as it has Management (well regulated).

If it actually breaks laws, it would be subject to prosecution, of course.

But in these times, even a simple Neighborhood Watch (George Zimmerman) is too much for the Deep State to allow.

Well regulated = well trained.

 

[diggs223]

Well regulated = well trained.

And well equipped

 

[8w7]

There are some incorrect responses here.

The phrase "well-regulated" was in common use long before 1789, and remained so for a century thereafter. It referred to the property of something being in proper working order. Something that was well-regulated was calibrated correctly, functioning as expected.

Meaning of the phrase "well-regulated"

 

[Acer-m14]

the people are the militia and "well-regulated" is they had a riffle / canon , ammo, powder and it all was in working order and ready to fire ..

 

[Phazer]

The well regulated part meant at the time well supplied not regulated the way you mean. Language was different.

Correct.

"Well regulated" meant "to be made regular." As in, as well supplied as the standing military of the time.

 

[Vapor]

All anyone has to do is look at the primary sources from the time. The federalist papers, personal writings, etc.


"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for few public officials." (George Mason, 3 Elliot, Debates at 425-426)


I think it's pretty fucking clear for anyone with an IQ as high as a moderately warm summer day.

 

[RedBreast21]

As far as I can see, any Militia is Constitutional, as long as it has Management (well regulated).

If it actually breaks laws, it would be subject to prosecution, of course.

But in these times, even a simple Neighborhood Watch (George Zimmerman) is too much for the Deep State to allow.

Ah yes regulated. What was a common definition of "regulated" in the 18th century? Farm animals for sale were listed as "well regulated" did that mean governed, ruled by law? No. It meant well taken care of ie: fed and cared for. A well regulated militia is one that trains and well maintained by the citizens not any governing body.