The Real and Racist Origins of the Second Amendment

[jmg257]

23. The 2nd was/is not about the States. The Militias allow We the people to avoid

Last edited Fri Dec 21, 2012, 12:39 PM - Edit history (1)

dependence on that bane of liberty, a large standing army...because a large standing army is THE source of power of a tyrannical government.

Besides having the right to keep and bear arms (individually), it was imperative that the people themselves make up the Militias.
Who better ("necessary...".) to secure the liberties of the people then the people themselves? The Militias of the Several States, made from the body of the people, were entities that exisited long before the Constitution, and were codified under the Articles of Confederation. In the Constitution they were given very specific very important roles in securing our freedom.

The TRUE reason this right was secured specifically, is because the new Congress was given the powers formally left to the states - to, not only provide that the state Militias could be called up for federal use, but to dictate how those exisiting Militias were to be organized, trained and armed (i.e. the people would supply their own arms to avoid govt control). Why? So they would be most effective...our freedom depended on it!

Bottom line - the 2nd amendment is to ensure the government can not disarm the people. It secures the right of the people - individually and collectivelly - to bear arms. Certainly 'self-defence', 'protection from savages', and 'the taking of wild game' was a given, just as much as the common defence.

"well-regulated" is WHY the Congress was given the powers of organization and training...The Militias being well-trained, well armed and, due to conformity - well-functioning, would be assured (they weren't under the AoC) - it was now the law of the land.


This is the amendment as 1st proposed by Madison. It clearly shows the intent:

"The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; a well
armed and well regulated militia being the best security of a free country:
but no person religiously scrupulous of bearing arms shall be compelled to
render military service in person."

Of course the militia section of the 2nd has been obsoleted by the people due to our acceptance of large (HUGE) standing army, and the nationalizing of the militia via the National Guard. By 1900, the level of effectiveness of the Militias in fighting our wars of conquest left something to be desired.