Who are the Militia?

[jimmy the one]

76. mason out of context

dscntnt: George Mason: "I ask you sir, who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people."

Taking things out of context again, mason was speaking of the several classes of people the militia was comprised of (free white males that is) - & mason also suggested a select militia possibility;
This one {Geo Mason quote} seems to have entered the gun-lobby's list of clipped quotes in support of a universal militia
.. in fuller context: I ask, Who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people, except a few public officers. But I cannot say who will be the militia of the future day. If that paper on the table gets no alteration, the militia of the future day may not consist of all classes, high and low, and rich and poor; but they may be confined to the lower and middle classes of the people, granting exclusion to the higher classes of the people.
Mason was worried that in the future higher classes would exempt themselves from militia duty: {mason} he, himself, had not spoken of a selection of militia, but of the exemption of the highest classes of the people from militia service; which would justify apprehensions of severe and ignominious punishments http://www.saneguns.org/law/mason_01.html

beevul: Amendment 2 does not "call for" anything. Any absurd notions or assertions to the contrary prove without a shadow of a doubt, ignorance of the bill of rights, its purpose, and how it functions.

The 2ndA in 1791 defined what was needed regarding well regulated militias, & the militia act of 1792, written about 6 months later, described & 'called for' well regulated militias. It also mandated every man bring a musket, which proved untenable, since only about 1 in 4 men had a firearm.