MEMBER & GUEST INTERACTION SECTION > THE 2ND AMENDMENT

2nd amendment

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buzzbee:
I think a good start to this topic would be this from James Madison, one of the founders of our Constitution, in Federalist  number 46

"Let a regular army, fully equal to the resources of the country, be formed; and let it be entirely at the devotion of the federal government; still it would not be going too far to say, that the State governments, with the people on their side, would be able to repel the danger. The highest number to which, according to the best computation, a standing army can be carried in any country, does not exceed one hundredth part of the whole number of souls; or one twenty-fifth part of the number able to bear arms. This proportion would not yield, in the United States, an army of more than twenty-five or thirty thousand men. To these would be opposed a militia amounting to near half a million of citizens with arms in their hands, officered by men chosen from among themselves, fighting for their common liberties, and united and conducted by governments possessing their affections and confidence. It may well be doubted, whether a militia thus circumstanced could ever be conquered by such a proportion of regular troops. Those who are best acquainted with the last successful resistance of this country against the British arms, will be most inclined to deny the possibility of it. Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached, and by which the militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of. Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms. And it is not certain, that with this aid alone they would not be able to shake off their yokes. But were the people to possess the additional advantages of local governments chosen by themselves, who could collect the national will and direct the national force, and of officers appointed out of the militia, by these governments, and attached both to them and to the militia, it may be affirmed with the greatest assurance, that the throne of every tyranny in Europe would be speedily overturned in spite of the legions which surround it."

Reading this you van see how far off track the interpretations have gotten. You can clearly see from these writings why the right to keep and bear arms is needed. It is not about putting food on the table and arming only the militia.It was to keep the government as a subordinate of the people.

BeeMaster2:
 :beemaster:
:goodpost:
Notice, this is never taught in schools. We need to stress to our children why it is important to protect our second amendment rights.
Jim

Michael Bush:
When my kids were in high school they taught them the purpose of the 2nd amendment was to specify that the Army and the National Guard could be armed... they tend to ignore the part that says "the right of the people..." as opposed to "the right of the army..."

Kathyp:
"The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers; and will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them."
- Joseph Story

Not to mention that it can keep the nut guessing, and the make the nuttier dead ;-)

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