The Atlantic on the Mysterious Meaning of the 2nd Amendment

It is difficult to get a man an Atlantic journalist to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it.
–UPTON SINCLAIR

If you read the Federalist Papers, Anti-federalist Papers, and the minutes of the Constitutional Convention of 1787 kept by James Madison, the 2nd Amendment is absolutely clear. These should be required study in Middle School and High School. This is no longer taught. Liberals just don’t like what it says.

Second Amendment
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.

First, you have to understand the construction of an 18th Century Militia. It was individual citizens who volunteered. Those who volunteered for Militia Duty provided their own weapons. Well Regulate meant two things. Having the same arms as would an infantry soldier and being proficient in the use of those arms. In the Late 1700s, this meant a rifle, pistol, bow & arrows, tomahawk, explosives (gunpowder), grenades, rockets, and even a Cannon. Pretty much any weapon an individual could fabricate. Some Colonialist of means even had a private Man-of-war, i.e. a gun ship with cannons. “Shall not be infringed” is self explanatory.

The Colonialist were fearful of a Federal Army (or police force). They wanted to maintain the autonomy of the individual States in order to ensure the New Federal Government didn’t amass too much power. The Federal Government was to Protect the Nation’s Borders. The States were to deal with internal matters like criminals and Indians (which were the Illegal Aliens of the day). In the day, the States only saw the Federal Government’s role within the States as that of putting down Invasion and Insurrection as stipulated in Article 4 Section 4 which the US Federal Government routinely tramples over. The Federal Government never ask for permission from the States to intervene in matters related to the States.

What is most disturbing is the Courts have enjoined States from protecting their Borders when the Federal Government fails to. This was the whole idea behind the Militia. The Militia was supposed to act when higher authority couldn’t or REFUSED to follow the Law. This is why Liberals hate the Second Amendment and the idea of the Citizen Militia. The Citizen Militia was to be another check against Federal Government Malfeasance and Corruption. A strict interpretation of the 2nd Amendment would make every gun law in America Unconstitutional.

Another note in History. George Washington picked the location of the District of Columbia. One of the reason for the location is that it is a city that was not defensible against a Well Regulated Militia of the Day. He supposedly told members of Congress it was indefensible after DC was completed, but before the Government moved from Philadelphia. Washington understood that the Government needed to fear The People. We quickly found out that DC was indefensible during the War of 1812. If it wasn’t for a storm, DC would have been leveled.

I dislike guns and have never owned a gun.
However, I strongly support M. Dowling’s interpretation of the 2nd amendment. I studied the constitution in the 8th grade and again in the 12th grade and believe in it. It is a most remarkable document that amazingly fits 2023 even better than when written in 1787. The foresight of our ancestors is amazing.
If I still lived in the US I would own and regularly practice with both pistols and rifles.
To me trying to change the constitution makes no sense. I despise how much of the judiciary, trying to act in a legislative way, is trying to warp it.
lease support the Independent Sentinel. Encourage people to read it. It is an important tool in the constant vigilance to maintain our freedom, as well as to live with a just system of law and order. We need each branch of government to function in a constitutional manner.