Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: The meaning of the Second Amendment (One Perspective) [View all]jmg257
(11,996 posts)Militias being important to free States/Countries was a popular theme.
Madison Draft:
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.
Knox on Militias:
An energetic National Militia is to be regarded as the capital security of a free republic
Jefferson:
That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain
Very likely, by changing "country" to "State", the Select Committee was giving the reluctant states a bone, and certainly giving a much stronger recognition (requirement actually) of what type of militias they were talking about - the constitutional Militias of the several States.