Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: How is Meatloaf's 'Id Do Anything for Love' like the 2nd Amendment? [View all]yagotme
(3,819 posts)preclude the use of the word "AND" in your example.
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.
"A well regulated Militia," The militia of the time were the foundation for the conscripts for the army, and provided for local/community defense/order. Well regulated meant performing properly, as a well regulated clock.
"being necessary to the security of a free state," Explanatory statement, reason for previous one.
"the right of the people to keep and bear arms," "The right" refers to a natural right, which means it is not "given" or "allowed" by government, or man. SOME of these are listed by name in the BOR, the 10th alludes to others. "The people" have gone through various definitions throughout our history, but basically boils down to citizens of the community. "Keep and bear arms,". This is where a lot of the arguments really start. What are arms? Assault rifles? A Brown Bess of the period accepted a bayonet, and would be the assault rifle of the time. Did they consider banning them? No. Bayonets, swords, military rifles, sporting arms, were all considered "arms". I'm sure, if one could afford one, that a cannon could have been owned by an individual. "Keep and bear." Usually, I would think that this would be self explanatory, but some seem to think that "keep" and "bear" don't mean what they mean. "Keep" means to have, to own. "Bear", to carry, port.
"shall not be infringed." Again, seems to be self explanatory. "shall not be." Don't do it. "infringed." To limit/restrict unnecessarily, without due legal process.
And, before anyone asks about letting criminals having guns, "citizen" was defined as LAWFUL member of community. Criminals were not allowed many constitutional rights due to their crime.