A Population Capable Of Using And Operating Firearms Is Necessary

We The People Second Amendment Constitution Bill of Rights
A Population Capable Of Using And Operating Firearms Is Necessary

USA – -(AmmoLand.com)- All too often the anti-gun left in America says that the 2nd amendment does not say what it means. They say “regulated” means to be controlled by the Government that the National Guard is the militia. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“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.”

So – How did George Washing describe the militia?

“…. Men just dragged from the tender Scenes of domestic life; unaccustomed to the din of Arms; totally unacquainted with every kind of military skill, which being followed by a want of confidence in themselves, when opposed to Troops regularly trained, disciplined, and appointed, superior in knowledge and superior in Arms, makes them timid, and ready to fly from their own shadows … ~ (Weatherup, Roy G.: Standing Armies and the Armed Citizens: An Historical Analysis of the Second Amendment. Hastings Constitutional Law Quarterly (Fall 1975), 973)”

Hmmm… It doesn’t sound like the National Guard now does it? Ok, so it DOES seem like the French Army though. The definition of the militia from the 18th century is all able-bodied citizens between the ages of 17 and 45.

Regulated – does not mean controlled, it is about military operations being drilled and prepared.

Or we could again read a quote from George Washington:

“The distinction between a well-regulated army and a mob is the good order and discipline of the first, and the licentious and disorderly behavior of the latter.”

Hummmm… sure seem to meet the definition of drilled and prepared.

So if we translate the ORIGINAL writing of the 2nd Amendment with modern words that match the intent of the founders we get this.

“Having a population capable of using and operating firearms is necessary for the security of the free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

So the 2nd amendment means what it says if you don’t play word games with it.

To illustrate it further let’s replace the word arms with books. Please consider the following:

“A well EDUCATED populace being necessary for the security of the free state, the right of the people to keep and read books shall not be infringed.”

Ohhhh… Some books are too dangerous for you to own, we must ban them. (I’m sure Facebook would agree!) We should ban ALL books so that you only learn what the elite want you to know. While the left may now agree there is a lot of correlation here, one you should pay attention too when you see how your rights are being affected.

In 1850 you could give a slave a gun to hunt for food if you taught a slave to read you would be hung. Knowledge and free speech have always been the real source of power.

As for “The People.” The same men who wrote the 2nd amendment also wrote all the other amendments. So, if “The People” in one amendment refers to only those in the military does that mean that only those who have served have the right to free speech?. As a kid, we all read Starship Trooper or saw the movie. “Services guarantees citizenship,” is an honest alternative to the Constitution depending on how you describe “The People.” I don’t think the meaning of “The people” has changed or is all that hard to understand.

So just for the fun of it, the following link shows several words whose meaning has changed over time. You might be surprised at what you read.

The 2nd Amendment means what it says; you have the natural right to own a firearm despite what they want you to believe.


About Don McDougall

Don McDougall
Don McDougall

Don McDougall is an NRA instructor and member of the Los Padres “Friends of the NRA” committee. If he’s not at the range, you will find him setting the record straight with on gun issues and gun safety on AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.

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Jim Macklin

Author: Mark Zanghetti Comment: “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state ? [well yes, therefore] “The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” This is the cleanest explanation of the Second Amendment that I have seen in a very long time. Can I steal this and use it elsewhere? I agree with it 110% ! Be my guest, I’d like to see 300 million people use it. Here is some more you might find useful. Posted on Ammoland Jim Macklin says: November 9, 2018 at 9:23 AM Why… Read more »

tomcat

@Gwyn Fish Excuse me, I don’t understand what you are trying to say.

Chris

What Im saying is Colorado will be under a Dem governor and legislator. The last time this happened in 2013 we got universal background checks for private sales and high capacity magazines bans rammed into law. There also was a recall of dist 3 rep. I can’t remember her name right off but she was removed.

2013 was bad just watch and see what happens to the 2nd amendment in Colorado over the next 2 years.
The State is looking more and more like CA and less like the state I grew up in.

Mark Zanghetti

“A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state ? [well yes, therefore]
“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.”

This is the cleanest explanation of the Second Amendment that I have seen in a very long time. Can I steal this and use it elsewhere? I agree with it 110% !

Chris

Watch what happens in Colorado now that the left holds all three branches of government in this State.
Iam a CO native that can remember when you could mail order a gun, my grandfather had a tavern and traded guns for bar tabs,the wall behind the bar had hand guns from top to bottom
No background checks no questions asked.
Now we have a gay governor elec and transplants pouring in for each cost with their liberal mindset, I am afraid we have lost are one great state of Colorado.

Oldmariine

Oldmarine >>> All Law Of The Land The general misconception is that any statute passed by legistrators beraring the appearance of Law constititues the law of the land. The U>S> Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and any statute, to be valid, must be in agreement. It is impossible for a law which violates the Constitution to beto be valid.This is succinctly atated as follows; “All laws wich are repugnant to theConstitution are null and void. ” Marbury vs.Madison, 5 US ( 2 Cranch ) 137,174, 176, ( 1803 ) Do not violate the Constitution or you will… Read more »

Jim Macklin

The Second Amendment was written thirteen years after Concord and Lexington. The lessons learned by the Founders and the Minutemen was that a militia controlled by the government was no protection for the freedom from a tyrant. Patrick Henry objected that the Militia controlled by Congress was inadequate to protect freedom. The militia in the Constitution of 1787 was armed by the Congress. Objections and refusals to ratify the Constitution resulted in the Bill of Rights. The Second Amendment was written to guarantee that the people would always have their private military arms safe from confiscation, The people pushing gun… Read more »

Wild Bill

@Dubi McDougall, Enjoyable article, sir. I also enjoyed your article in the January issue of Guns magazine.

Roy D.

This is why the power to define is the greatest power humans can possess. For good or ill.

John Kociuba
Kenneth Clark

Gun control or so called common sense gun laws are only the beginning of total elimination of Constitutional rights here in America.. Government could care less about children, safety or anything else (EXEPT) controlling the masses to inforce their agenda.$$$ It’s all about power and money… That’s it.. And they will use anything or any… race, age or gender makes no difference.. Keeping Citizens confused, angry or scared are the tools.. Don’t let them use these on you.. Be strong.. Think for yourself.. Use anything and everything to keep yourself and your families safe and don’t let anyone tell you… Read more »

USA citizen

It’s so disturbing when a deranged or hate filled animal cowards murder innocent and unarmed fellow citizens with one of the great self-defense tools of our time. When you understand the founders interpretation our second amendment is Crystal clear. A gun hater is a person who has thankfully never needed one to feed the family or to protect themselves.

joefoam

Murder and mayhem exists world wide. You can thank the MSM and social media for it’s prominence. Years ago most of the stories about murders would be on the back page of the local newspaper, now it’s front page news. Gotta sell that ad space and air time to get ratings and make money.

John

I simi agree with you. Rather then seller papers or making money on front page news about killings, its really about advancing their agenda of gun confiscation.

Cindy e

The 2nd Amendment protects all other rights.I remember when loaded guns hung in the back windows of trucks In school parking lots.No one ever thought of using one in violence. There were loaded guns in every house in unlocked gun cabinets and closets.Its not the guns that are dangerous it’s the people and what they have became.

John Christee

Yeah Abby S…..Nice try…….With fists and bats and knives and all sorts of other weapons…..You just dont hear about it because it doesnt fit the agenda set forth by the left…..Get educated before you make ridiculous comments to people who own guns and recognize facts…..You are 4 times more likely to get beaten to death than killed by a firearm…..The NRA trains more people in gun safety than any other organization on the planet….You just dont like them because they fight for our rights to defend ourselves just as the forefathers intended…..

Jim

I live in the Ozarks killed my first squirrel at 6 have hunted ever since I’m 62 .it’s not the gun that screws up it the person with the finger on the trigger . how about baseball bats and golf clubs oh and don’t forget about kitchen knifes,rolling pins and bricksjim

Axtel Lambright

I am a Texan, Don’t even think about coming after any weapons You might think that I own, When You enter My home after knocking My front door
in You become “Terriorists” and will be dealt with by any means available until They remove My cold dead fingers from My empty weapons, Dont mess with Texans, They will fight for Their rights

Linco, Abe

Good old George Washing. Glad I can go to sleep every night and wake up every afternoon still drunk yet secure in the comfort of knowing that I can both use AND operate a firearm thanks to his divine influence. Imagine how those unfortunate sods must feel, who can only operate but not use a firearm. Oh well, good thing they can only do one of those things, seeing as they are probably a bunch of libtard cucks anyway. I got a firearm they can both use and operate if you know what I’m sayin. Y’all keep us great now.… Read more »

Dave

Basic human right recognized by the constitution,Not Granted.

Paul

Yes!

Robert P

If people would pay attention to others around them.
If students would stop bullying others and then wonder why they are targeted when the one that was harassed comes in and starts shooting. The cause for the most part was the sick
Individuals who did the harassment of others and think it’s funny. That is untill the bleeding starts. It’s a people problem not a weapon problem. My weapons have never hurt anyone and never will unless a sick individual would attempt to do harm to my loved ones.
It’s the person not the device used. Wake up people!

Bernard

So, if it means what it says then no person, no matter who, should be able to own a weapon. This would include the mentally ill, convicted felons, anyone without age limitations, 10 year olds fought in the civil and revolutionary wars, the Indian wars, the war of 1812.

GreyMan

Well if the definition of the well regulated militia is all ABLE -BODIED MALES AGED 17-45, then no, 10 year olds don’t qualify on that metric. Also, able-BODIED includes mentally stable, so you lose on that point as well. Come on, you can do better…

Jim Macklin

That is not true, Even 231 years ago, murderers, criminally insane and illegal aliens and waring Indians were not legally armed. But it is true that “the people” were not only allowed to possess and use military weaponry, they were required by law to have a military suitable shoulder fired weapon. The the 1939 MILLER case about the only thing the SCOTUS was sure of was that the people were “expected to appear bearing their private [military] arms.” The question they had was a short barreled shotgun also a military weapon. The trial court in Arkansas had not taken any… Read more »

Tionico

didjya read about the young lad whose home was invaded by a bad guy? Feller busted in the front door, smashed his way into the house then the kitchen where he backed Momma up against a counter, holding a big kitchen knife to her throat, and began making demands that she “service” him to his pleasure. Eleven year old son looked into the kitchen, sized up the situation, ran upstairs, got his Daisey BB gun, ran back down, and began peppering the horny toad in the face, shot after shot…. he finally had taken enough, dropped the knife and fled… Read more »

Charles Moore

I actually have no problem with able, experienced children having firearms; my kids all had their own high-powered rifles when they reached age 11. These included a .243, a 7mm-08 and a .308. I’m also not overly concerned about an individual’s mental health or status as a felon, since these conditions already and will always exist. They are merely to be addressed and dealt with on an individual basis; the most important factor being that there always be an adequate percentage of the public as a rule to spread the coverage of armed and ready citizens sufficiently to deal with… Read more »

Wade

My dear sir, your points are well taken and absolutely the truth. I own an assault rifle, which I consider the descendant of the militia arms used in this country’s initial resistance to tyranny. Other than occasional visits to the range, It rests ready to serve in the same capacity as those farmers used theirs by that rude bridge

JoeUSooner

Wade, do you truly own an “assault rifle” (fully automatic)? They are expensive, their permits are expensive and time-consuming to obtain, and ammunition costs can be huge… was it really worth the time and money?

Or do you own an AR15, semi-auto, rifle? They are much more affordable, and slightly easier to obtain… but they are not (as mainstream media and politicians wish you to believe) “assault” rifles or weapons.

Wild Bill

@Joe US, I was highly impressed and envious.

Cody Judd

All I have to say is it is spelled out plain as day in the amendment. What it states is “, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”. So in that mindset “We the People of the United States…”, should always have the right. Government can change laws but in the end we keep giving up more and more of our rights as human beings, the Constitution was to be basic human rights we all are granted.

David R Logsdon

Right on Don, very well said. It always amazing to me how the left interprets things using their pretzel logic using shameless hypocritical double standards.Thank you so much for your commentary.

Dennis L Coates

Fact I will not give my guns up. Gun grabbers better be willing to pay the price, it sure as hell will not be easy

Abie s.

NRA IS FULL OF IT. SO MANY KILLED ON A DAILY BASIS
IN AMERICA.

wayne wilda

Abiejust what do you think the NRA has done that makes them full of it? For your information the NRA has done more for gun safety and education in this country than all the left leaning liberals have ever done. Before you comment please be informed and educated about what you post. Post’s like yours do nothing but further the lies that are spread about lawful gun owners and peace loving American’s. The only thing that people like you do is stir up the crazy people who actually do cause harm so please stop.

Cindy Hoelting

Americans have owned firearms for a couple of centuries. I don’t think even the wild, wild, west could match some of today’s cities for murder rates. For the past one-hundred years only a small percentage used guns illegally, as in murder. So what has changed? The amount of violence shown on media outlets, day in and day out. Even children are no longer protected from scenes of graphic violence. We have all become immune in our reaction to violence. It seems to me the 1st amendment is more the culprit than the 2nd amendment.

Katrina

Quit being such a Hypocrite. How many people does Planned Parenthood Murder everyday. The NRA has Never killed anyone.
They teach Gun Safety and how to use a Weapon. Why don’t you
Educate yourself about the NRA and the good they do and
and stop being an Idiot.

L.L. Smith

Well taken but how does an idiot stop being an idiot?
Have you ever tried to educate an idiot? I know where you can start.

Gary

Was that real?

C.B.

Guns are not the only instrument of death. Countries with gun bans still have murders and terrorism exists worldwide as well. Places in this county like Chicago that have gun bans have the worst gun violence in the country, so onviously bans sre not the answer. If more citizens had guns on their persons at all times and knew how to competently and confidently use them, active shooter situations would be over before they started. Our society needs to place greater value on fostering positive relations and building strong, supportive families and communities. Individuals would be less likely to engage… Read more »

John

Sorry to disagree. Less people have died via firearms since the relaxation of gun control. Only extremely left media make it seem otherwise.

Tionico

Guns are used to kill at far lower rates than many other things that take lives. ANy idea how many die fromillegal drug use per year? Its about 70K. How about killed with the standard garden variety carpenter’s claw hammer, and similar? Try about 15K How about cars? 33K in hospitals, not because of the thing that sent them there in the first place………… about 30K prescriptioin drugs, taken as prescried about 20K alcohol, direct overdose, and consequential deaths from being too drunk 30K knives, edged weapons 30K murdered in your mother’s womg 80K suicides, from all means 40K homicides… Read more »

James Swiderski

Scalia defined it more narrowly. A right of personal self.defense. This leave open allot of regulations. In short, weapons to defend your home and person from bad guys, but not weapons tonight if the government. This more expansive definition sought by the NRA I wouldn’t even get Scalia’s support. By the way, Americans know guns. We kill each other much better than the liberal weenie nation’s that have gun control. Keep up the good work.

Tionico

Scalia made that statement not intending that use to be exclusive to all other uses. He was clarifying the NEED for the common man to posses arms to defend himself/family against any threats coming against him. He in no wise intended to imply that this is the ONLY legitimate use for arms. How stupid do you think we are, anyways?

kz313

“…..licentious and disorderly behavior of the latter.”. Sounds like the anti-gun left.

Gwyn Fish

I believe the 2nd. She’ll not be over ridden. We should uphold it too to the man.