Spoonman
Gold Member
- Jul 15, 2010
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Yet no one taught you how to read yet.And the Founding Fathers said we can have MILITIAS. The correct answer is "Militias"...
I live in the 21st century...
Original text:
THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added; And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.
RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three-fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.
ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.
Article the first. .... After the first enumeration required by the first article of the Constitution, there shall be one Representative for every 30,000 until the number shall amount to 100, after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall be not less than 100 Representatives, nor less than one Representative for every 40,000 persons, until the number of Representatives shall amount to 200; after which the proportion shall be so regulated by Congress, that there shall not be less than 200 Representatives, nor more than one Representative for every 50,000 persons.
Article the second ... No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.
Article the third ...... Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Article the fourth..... 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...
Note the operative clause is the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. Why? Because a well regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free state. The militia clause is a prefatory clause that provides a reasonable reason for the operative clause.
Good Christ, we're back to "prefatory" again...
It's either prefatory or it's dependent. What you just described is the latter.
again the militia is self regulated by the citizens. explicitly not the government. a militia regulated by the citizens by leaders of their choosing. Madisons own words. given he wrote the 2nd amendment I'm sure he has a pretty good perspective on how it was to be managed