PeterS wrote:
Then you will have no problem in giving up your pretend assault weapons will you. As for the founders design.
This is what James Madison had to say: “A standing military force, with an overgrown Executive will not long be safe companions to liberty. The means of defence agst. foreign danger, have been always the instruments of tyranny at home. Among the Romans it was a standing maxim to excite a war, whenever a revolt was apprehended. Throughout all Europe, the armies kept up under the pretext of defending, have enslaved the people.”
The fear was that a despot would use the freestanding army to suppress the citizenry as did King George during the revolution.
This is what Patrick Henry had to say: “A standing army we shall have, also, to execute the execrable commands of tyranny; and how are you to punish them? Will you order them to be punished? Who shall obey these orders? Will your mace-bearer be a match for a disciplined regiment?”
This is the reason behind the wording for the second amendment:"A well regulated militia being necessary for the security of a free state." "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”
So, a well regulated militia is necessary for the security of a free state, therefore, the rights of the people to bear arms shall not be infringed. The second amendment means what it says...
Then you will have no problem in giving up your pr... (
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By the way, well regulated refers to the command structure of the militia, not the armaments thereof.