The meaning of the Second Amendment (One Perspective)

[jmg257]

106. You did read what I wrote, right?

The Militia Act of 1792, Passed May 8, 1792, providing federal standards for the organization of the Militia.

An ACT more effectually to provide for the National Defence, by establishing an Uniform Militia throughout the United States.
I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is herein after excepted) shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the militia, by the Captain or Commanding Officer of the company, within whose bounds such citizen shall reside...

VII. And be it further enacted, That the rules of discipline, approved and established by Congress, in their resolution of the twenty-ninth of March, 1779, shall be the rules of discipline so be observed by the militia throughout the United States, except such deviations from the said rules, as may be rendered necessary by the requisitions of the Act, or by some other unavoidable circumstances. It shall be the duty of the Commanding Officer as every muster, whether by battalion, regiment, or single company, to cause the militia to be exercised and trained, agreeably to the said rules of said discipline.

More recently

(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied
males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section
313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a
declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States
and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the
National Guard.
(b) The classes of the militia are -
(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard
and the Naval Militia; and
(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of
the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the
Naval Militia.

On militia vs large standing armies...

Mr. Gerry — This declaration of rights, I take it, is intended to secure the people against the mal-administration of the government; if we could suppose that in all cases the rights of the people would be attended to, the occasion for guards of this kind would be removed. Now, I am apprehensive, sir, that this clause would give an opportunity to the people in power to destroy the constitution itself. They can declare who are those religiously scrupulous, and prevent them from bearing arms. What, sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty.

Madison

Should an army in time of peace be gradually established in our neighbourhood by Britn: or Spain, declarations on paper would have as little effect in preventing a standing force for the public safety. The best security agst. these evils is to remove the pretext for them.

1789-91

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State...

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia, and...

The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several states

And on duty to serve in the militia...
Jackson

Mr. Jackson said, “that he was of the opinion that the people of America would never consent to be deprived of the privilege of carrying arms.” “In a Republic every man ought to be a soldier, and prepared to resist tyranny and usurpation, as well as invasion…”.

Compare this notion to our complete acceptance of HUGE standing Armies; and the notion that the only well-regulated militia is now a federal entity, of volunteers, armed by the government.


1789

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions;

More recently...

(a) Use of Armed Forces in Major Public Emergencies. - (1) The
President may employ the armed forces including the National Guard,
in Federal service, to -
(A) restore public order and enforce the laws of the United
States ...
(i) domestic violence
(B) suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence,
unlawful combination, or conspiracy...

If you don't see the differences, you are not looking hard enough...