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Originally posted by: malibber2
No, it wasn’t the common man. The amendment was passed because back when the colonies were in control of England the English confiscated the rifles belonging to members of the individual state militias and banned the part time soldiers from keeping their weapons in their homes out fear they would be used in a rebellion against English rule. The militias were akin to what we think of today as each state’s National Guard. The term “well regulated” indicates they didn’t want the common man possessing fire arms especially without regulation.
If you believe that the framers wanted the common man (rather than the individual state militias) to be able to take the government back, then every common man today should be in as a matter of right be entitled to possess a stockpile of Nuclear weapons and predator drones because without having the equivalent arms of the government the common man can't take back government.
Originally posted by: malibber2
No, it wasn’t the common man. The amendment was passed because back when the colonies were in control of England the English confiscated the rifles belonging to members of the individual state militias and banned the part time soldiers from keeping their weapons in their homes out fear they would be used in a rebellion against English rule. The militias were akin to what we think of today as each state’s National Guard. The term “well regulated” indicates they didn’t want the common man possessing fire arms especially without regulation.
If you believe that the framers wanted the common man (rather than the individual state militias) to be able to take the government back, then every common man today should be in as a matter of right be entitled to possess a stockpile of Nuclear weapons and predator drones because without having the equivalent arms of the government the common man can't take back government.
If you'll bother to read the comments and notes on the bill of rights by those such as Benjamin Franklin, George Mason and James Madison. You know, the guys who wrote it. You will learn that YES, They do mean the common man, all of them.
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a WELL ARMED lamb contesting the vote. - George Mason.
A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people - Richard Henry Lee
A militia when properly formed are in fact the people themselves … and include all men capable of bearing arms. - Samuel Adams
“It may be laid down, as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every citizen who enjoys the protection of a free government, owes not only a proportion of his property, but even of his personal services to the defence of it, and consequently that the Citizens of America (with a few legal and official exceptions) from 18 to 50 Years of Age should be borne on the Militia Rolls, provided with uniform Arms, and so far accustomed to the use of them, that the Total strength of the Country might be called forth at Short Notice on any very interesting Emergency.” - George Washington
