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I hope I'm not repeating what others might have said, but I do not see any argument for this amendment. It is quite plain and simple and to the point.
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
I believe this to mean two things.
One: It provides states the ability to defend themselves as a state.
Two: It provides the people the right to bear arms. If it meant only a militia, it would read:
,the right of the militia to keep and bear arms....
It does not limit the type of arms, loaded/unloaded, or the amount of ammo you can have. If you want a howitzer in your front yard, so be it.
It does not say where, when, how.
Some people want to try to argue the wording or grammar of this amendment, but these are the thoughts and quotes of the people who shaped, wrote, and signed the constitution of the United States, at least what I could find so far.
Quotes:
Samuel Adams
"How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!"
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
"The Constitution shall never be construed... to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."
"The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending against all hazards: And it is our duty to defend them against all attacks."
"The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on Earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but only to have the law of nature for his rule."
George Washington
"Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth."
James Madison
"Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."
"If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."
"No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare."
"The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation where the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."
"We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties."
This next quote defines who will be "in" a militia for defense, but not to limit the "people" of bearing arms. See his other quotes.
"A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained in arms, is the best most natural defense of a free country."
Gouverneur Morris
"Americans need never fear their government because of the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation."
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
I believe this to mean two things.
One: It provides states the ability to defend themselves as a state.
Two: It provides the people the right to bear arms. If it meant only a militia, it would read:
,the right of the militia to keep and bear arms....
It does not limit the type of arms, loaded/unloaded, or the amount of ammo you can have. If you want a howitzer in your front yard, so be it.
It does not say where, when, how.
Some people want to try to argue the wording or grammar of this amendment, but these are the thoughts and quotes of the people who shaped, wrote, and signed the constitution of the United States, at least what I could find so far.
Quotes:
Samuel Adams
"How strangely will the Tools of a Tyrant pervert the plain Meaning of Words!"
"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: First a right to life, secondly to liberty, and thirdly to property; together with the right to defend them in the best manner they can."
"The Constitution shall never be construed... to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."
"The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil constitution, are worth defending against all hazards: And it is our duty to defend them against all attacks."
"The natural liberty of man is to be free from any superior power on Earth, and not to be under the will or legislative authority of man, but only to have the law of nature for his rule."
George Washington
"Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth."
James Madison
"Americans have the right and advantage of being armed - unlike the citizens of other countries whose governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."
"If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy."
"No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare."
"The Constitution preserves the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation where the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms."
"We are right to take alarm at the first experiment upon our liberties."
This next quote defines who will be "in" a militia for defense, but not to limit the "people" of bearing arms. See his other quotes.
"A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained in arms, is the best most natural defense of a free country."
Gouverneur Morris
"Americans need never fear their government because of the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation."
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