2nd Amendment - Gun Control

**Papasito** · July-15-13, 09:42 AM

Thank you, Mr. Bloomberg.
I feel so much safer!

**noise** · July-15-13, 09:49 AM

An outdated add-on written by very flawed men. And reinterpreted by even more flawed men.

**rb336** · July-15-13, 10:11 AM

Why does everyone forget that the 2nd contains the phrase well regulated?

**Zacha341** · July-15-13, 10:14 AM

No worries there. The 'regulation' factor is coming fast! ------

**oladub** · July-15-13, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by rb336

Why does everyone forget that the 2nd contains the phrase well regulated?

The second amendment wording is confusing. If it said "Because a well regulated Militia, is necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed", then it would be clear that that right had only to do with maintaining a militia. But it doesn't say that.

It could also be underetood to read, " A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State and the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed". It doesn't say that either. However, since the early states had a large rural farm population, I lean toward the understanding that rural Americans needing to both defend themselves from Indian attacks, secure food, and kill dangerous animals would have their right to own weapons protected. Also, the founders did have concerns about over bearing governments after having lived under one such government. The Declaration of Independence even mentions that "when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government". I'm guessing, but can't prove, that the duty "to throw off" such government suggests more than peaceful protests that wouldn't be well explained by the exclusively militia interpretation.