american indians and the second amendment
AMERICAN INDIANS & THE 2ND AMENDMENT
AMERICAN INDIANS & THE 2ND AMENDMENT
This is an information only paper of historical research on the creation of the 2nd Amendment and its relation to Native America. It is not a work of argument or discussion on or about the 2nd Amendment or any issues since the writing of the amendment. The Author is in no way taking any sides on any rhetoric. Please be aware that this is for knowledge on the hows and whys the 2nd Amendment was created with regards to or more specific disregards to the Native American People.
As for any arguments on the 2nd Amendment, that is another subject entirely to be discussed elsewhere.
AMENDMENT II
The 2nd Amendment reads as follows with punctuation: 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.
This one somewhat simple concept has been argued about since it was first proposed by James Madison in 1789. Everything from the reason why it was written to the placement of punctuation and wording (especially the placement and use of the word of) has created heated arguments, debates, law suites, fights and more for what appears to be forever. The amendment passed by Congress has different punctuation than the amendment passed and ratified by the individual states. In fact what eventually became the 2nd Amendment was argued, debated and changed in the House, the Senate and the States multiple times from June 1789 until 1791 when it finally became law. From the moment it was proposed the Native American Culture was an integral part of the early arguments and debates on this 2nd Amendment. Most of America and the world have no idea that America’s Constitutional right to keep and bear arms was in part to protect one from Native Americans and even give one the right to kill Native Americans.
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The Bill of Rights as mentioned before came about because the loss of personal and civil rights and liberties had been the original reason for rebellion against the British Empire. Specific guarantees of these rights were given by a group of statesmen led by Jefferson, Madison, Mason and others who felt that these rights were sufficiently important to be stated separately and they became the first 10 amendments of the Constitution. One such right was the 2nd Amendment to “bear arms” for the following reasons as set forth in 1791:
1. Protection from the “Blood Thirsty Heathen Red Savages”
2. Protection from another country or government including Native American Nations
3. Protection from Wild Animals, including Native Americans
REASONS SET FORTH
1. Protection from the “Blood Thirsty Heathen Red Savages”
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Americans felt that they could not trust the Native Americans. This was for many reasons including the support of many Native American Nations as Allies to Great Britain during the Revolution. The fact that the Native Peoples had been split by Europeans since before the French & Indian War and that many Native American Nations helped the American Colonists in the French & Indian War and the American Revolution was completely and utterly forgotten. Now the great United States saw the Native American Nations as nothing more than a hindrance and a nuisance. America also feared the Native Americans. The Native Peoples of this land were often referred to as “Blood Thirsty Savages, Heathen Red Savages, Merciless Savages and Barbarians” as well as other derogatory terms by just about everyone from the average farmer to the well-off merchant and the “Founding Fathers.”
In fact the most illustrious and sacred document of freedom and liberty the Declaration of Independence refers to Native Americans as “…the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions” Article XXVII.
Read more: http://www.powwows.com/2011/07/21/american-indians-and-the-2nd-amendment/#ixzz3wxjw7BhZ
The Real And Racist Origins of the Second Amendment
A Black Agenda Radio commentary by BAR managing editor Bruce A. Dixon
The “well-regulated militia” that the US Constitution's second amendment refers to were slave patrols, land stealers and Indian killers, all quite necessary as the amendment's language states “to the security of a free state” built with stolen labor upon stolen land. Unless and until we acknowledge that history, we cannot have an honest discussion about gun control.
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http://www.blackagendareport.com/content/american-history-black-history-and-right-bear-arms