Daryl Hunt
Your Worst Nightmare
- Banned
- #1,701
It's about the limit of congressional power.It orders the meaning of the words. The first clause expresses the context. It is not about individual liberty or natural rights.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.“I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people except for a few public officials.”
— George Mason
Here we go again. It has been awhile. Let's look at the 2nd amendment.
A Well Regulated Militia. Why was this written? In 1791, the States had the ability to raise an army to prevent the federal government from seizing complete control. While the Federal Government was limited in it's number of Army troops, the states were not and the States could raise many times more troops and they would be equally armed. The problem is, the cost of wars like WWI got so expensive that any one state could not afford to arm their militias to the federal standards. Single shot rifles now became Automatic Rifles and Machine Guns. Canons became Artillery. The Aircraft Bomber and Fighters were introduced. The limited number of Federal Troops was deemed to be no longer applicable. Plus, the passing of the 1919 National Guard Act that enabled the Federal Government to nationalize the state national guards passed. This also meant that the States, for the first time, had access to the really neat toys that the Federal Troops had. Now, this didn't stop the States from having States Militias and I know of a couple that have that but they are there mainly for public emergency than anything else. A Well Regulated Militia no longer applies
The Right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. This one hasn't been applicable since 1869 when the first limitations were done on local levels for firearms. And then again in 1871. Shall Not Be Infringed means that it shall not be limited. During the 20th century, we did quite a few limitations like the Heavy Machine Gun, the Mortars, the Nuclear Weapons, the Personal Bombs and much, much more. Yes, we have a right to keep and bear arms but there will be limitations. And who determines those limitations? We are a country of laws so I guess it's up to the Legislators. Instead, we have had to rely on our Justice because our Legislators are too busy catering to the fringes to get elected and reelected to actually do their jobs. It didn't used to be that way. But it is today. The problem isn't really with anyone other than the lilly livered Congress Critters we keep sending to Washington and the various States.