• FireTower@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    Read more write less.

    That novel theory fails on so many merits. Such as why would they have felt a need to specify that aspects at the time? Under the proper interpretation it make perfect sense as some states had failed to maintain an effective militia. As another commentor pointed out, the original interpretation of the word survives today:

    On matters of law that view had been invalidated before its inception. In the words of early justice Joseph Story:

    The importance of this article will scarcely be doubted by any persons, who have duly reflected upon the subject. The militia is the natural defence of a free country against sudden foreign invasions, domestic insurrections, and domestic usurpations of power by rulers. It is against sound policy for a free people to keep up large military establishments and standing armies in time of peace, both from the enormous expenses, with which they are attended, and the facile means, which they afford to ambitious and unprincipled rulers, to subvert the government, or trample upon the rights of the people. The right of the citizens to keep and bear arms has justly been considered, as the palladium of the liberties of a republic; since it offers a strong moral check against the usurpation and arbitrary power of rulers; and will generally, even if these are successful in the first instance, enable the people to resist and triumph over them. And yet, though this truth would seem so clear, and the importance of a well regulated militia would seem so undeniable, it cannot be disguised, that among the American people there is a growing indifference to any system of militia discipline, and a strong disposition, from a sense of its burthens, to be rid of all regulations. How it is practicable to keep the people duly armed without some organization, it is difficult to see. There is certainly no small danger, that indifference may lead to disgust, and disgust to contempt; and thus gradually undermine all the protection intended by this clause of our national bill of rights.

    • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      The original meaning is to create rules. Well functioning devices wasn’t associated with it until 1660. Nobody is saying that’s not one of the meanings. But it’s meant to create rules since the literal Roman empire, and as I’ve demonstrated was used that way legally by our founding fathers.

      The founding fathers were famously divided on federal power. The 2nd amendment is their compromise. Meant to be read in plain English. It doesn’t need partisan spin. If I cared though I could go find the other side to it but I don’t need to. They made sure of that by putting it in writing and cherry picking stuff isn’t going to change that.

      • FireTower@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        The founding fathers were famously divided on federal power. The 2nd amendment is their compromise.

        Factually wrong. See Federalist and Antifederalist Papers.

          • FireTower@lemmy.world
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            4 months ago

            Evidently not.

            THE power of regulating the militia and of commanding its services in times of insurrection and invasion are natural incidents to the duties of superintending the common defence, and of watching over the internal peace of the confederacy.

            It requires no skill in the science of war to discern that uniformity in the organization and discipline of the militia would be attended with the most beneficial effects, whenever they were called into service for the public defence. - Federalist 29

            • Maggoty@lemmy.world
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              4 months ago

              Oh no, we’ve been down this road before and your cherry picked quotes never mean what you want them to mean. I’m not wasting my time dredging up the papers again.