2nd amendment?

[bandwagonjumper]

I know another gun related. Simple question what is the purpose of the second amendment? Is it to help you to protect you, your family and property or is it to protect you, your family, property and the federal government or any authorities in general.
I've read a quote from some texan republican congressman who mention something about civilian militia and George Washington.

[A Salt Weapon]

Here's some more non-partisan reading material:




"shall not be infringed."


pretty clear to me.
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[tmax63]

Being as though they had just won their independence from England by having individuals with weapons they made it extremely clear that "We the people" needed the right to have personal weapons on the sheer chance that in a couple hundred years the government might not be responsive to the people and they would have to start all over again like our forefathers did.

[RNR]

Originally Posted by tmax63

Being as though they had just won their independence from England by having individuals with weapons they made it extremely clear that "We the people" needed the right to have personal weapons on the sheer chance that in a couple hundred years the government might not be responsive to the people and they would have to start all over again like our forefathers did.

But...but...the goberment could protect us if we would just give up our guns~

[Buzz_TinBalls]

Originally Posted by LiveSteam

This is weird. This guy is supposed to be the father of one of the murdered children.
after watching him smile then prep to cry for the media. Sorry I dnt buy it. I have a hard time believing this is a father of one of the victoms.

that is a good man. takes courage, he's got it in spades. the world lost a good one in his daughter, it seems to me. It isn't often i see a fellow american that makes me proud to be american -- he sure moved me.

[Buzz_TinBalls]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

This is actually a pretty good read on the subject:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_...s_Constitution

Experience in America prior to the U.S. Constitution


Ideals that helped to inspire the Second Amendment in part are symbolized by the minutemen.[25]

In no particular order, early American settlers viewed the right to arms and/or the right to bear arms and/or state militias as important for one or more of these purposes:[26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33]

deterring tyrannical government;[34]
repelling invasion;
suppressing insurrection;
facilitating a natural right of self-defense;
participating in law enforcement;
enabling the people to organize a militia system.

Which of these considerations they thought were most important, which of these considerations they were most alarmed about, and the extent to which each of these considerations ultimately found expression in the Second Amendment is disputed. Some of these purposes were explicitly mentioned in early state constitutions; for example, the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1776 asserted that, "the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state".[35]

During the 1760s pre-revolutionary period, the established colonial militia was composed of colonists, which included a number who were loyal to British imperial rule. As defiance and opposition to the British rule developed, a distrust of these Loyalists in the militia became widespread among the colonists, known as Patriots, who favored independence from British rule. As a result, these Patriots established independent colonial legislatures to create their own militias that excluded the Loyalists and then sought out to stock up independent armories for their militias. In response to this arms build up, the British Parliament established an embargo on firearms, parts and ammunition on the American colonies.[36]

British and Loyalist efforts to disarm the colonial Patriot militia armories in the early phases of the American Revolution resulted in the Patriot colonists protesting by citing the Declaration of Rights, Blackstone's summary of the Declaration of Rights, their own militia laws and common law rights to self-defense.[37] While British policy in the early phases of the Revolution clearly aimed to prevent coordinated action by the Patriot militia, some have argued that there is no evidence that the British sought to restrict the traditional common law right of self-defense.[37] Patrick J. Charles disputes these claims citing similar disarming by the patriots and challenging those scholars' interpretation of Blackstone.[38]

[bandwagonjumper]

So the consensus seems that the right to bear arms is to protect yourself against the a pontential rogue government. Surprisingly the NRA didn't come out with it when there replied to the latest mass shooting.

[Reaper16]

This is a particularly good read: http://scholarship.law.duke.edu/cgi/...ip&sei-redir=1

[BucEyedPea]

Originally Posted by bandwagonjumper

So the consensus seems that the right to bear arms is to protect yourself against the a pontential rogue government. Surprisingly the NRA didn't come out with it when there replied to the latest mass shooting.

Because it's inappropriate to say that after a tragedy but they have said it before, as well as for people to defend themselves.
It is the reason the Framers put it in with militia meaning, at that time, the people at large.

[Pawnmower]

Its not that hard...People WANT to make it hard, but all you have to do is read it...

Its so that CIVILIANS have access to basic weapons (well regulated means well equipped) so that they COULD form a militia, if they needed to.

This is so simple it is mind boggling, yet people want to make it complex.

1)Who would form the militia: Civilians

2) Who needs the arms so that they could form the militia: Civilians

3) What type of arms are needed: Something that would make them 'well regulated' or well equipped...IE the basic weaponry that would be issued to infantry such that they would have a fighting chance.

It does not say 'non dangerous' weapons. It says WELL REGULATED for a reason. The civilian militia would be pointless if it did not have similar rifles that were issued to the common soldier of the day. I'm not saying grenade launcher or special weapons like flame throwers...I'm just talking about your standard semi auto rifle, magazines, and ammo.