DudleySmith
Diamond Member
- Dec 21, 2020
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And the National Guard and Coast Guard were Federalized, so your point goes nowhere; the 'militia' stuff didn't last past Jefferson's Presidency, and was certainly dead by the end of the War of 1812, where its glaring weaknesses became painful obvious. But that has little to do with the fact that the states could decide their own laws re weapons and the like, and did so, same as they did with established religious sects and most everything else, including voting rights.The defense and protection of the state and of the United States is an obligation of all persons within the state. The legislature shall provide for the discharge of this obligation and for the maintenance and regulation of an organized militia.The whole 'Militia' fantasy went away pretty quickly; too many couldn't afford the equipment for one, and Jefferson as President had to resort to a standing Federal Army to enforce his embargoes in his second term.I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials."The rights to keep and bear arms is explicitly stated as belonging to THE PEOPLE, and the Second Amendment explicitly states that this right shall not be infringed.
— George Mason, in Debates in Virginia Convention on
Ratification of the Constitution, Elliot, Vol. 3, June 16, 1788
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.
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