Another Conservative Hypocrisy

[jmg257]

5. Close. It's to ensure the people could provide their own arms

To fill their right and duty to serve in the effective militias. That way the people cannot be disarmed, which would destroy the militias - the recourse being the arm of tyrants, huge standing armies.

The Govt already had their powers (not rights) over the state militias (which already existed and were well defined) as listed in s1/8 in the constitution.

ETA: on the religious exemption clause in the article which became the 2nd...

What, sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty. Now, it must be evident, that, under this provision, together with their other powers, Congress could take such measures with respect to a militia, as to make a standing army necessary. Whenever Governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins.

E Gerry