Could the NRA be considered a "militia"?

[CApighunter]

I have heard the "the second amendment is only for militia members, what militia are you part of?" argument a few too many times. I got to thinking about it and figured, why couldn't the NRA be a "militia"? Dictionary.com defines it as:
"4. a body of citizens organized in a paramilitary group and typically regarding themselves as defenders of individual rights against the presumed interference of the federal government."
The NRA is a group of ordinary citizens who are responsible firearm owners and strongly support the rights guaranteed to us in the US Constitution. I don't know about you, but that sounds pretty dang close to the dictionary definition... I encourage you all to join the NRA and support the right to keep and bear arms as promised in the Constitution.
Just my thoughts,
CApighunter

 

[beeenbag]

Well first off the scotus ruled the second amendment an individual right to bear arms. So anyone who tries to argue that guns are for militia is shot down right there. I don't have to join anything to practice my costitutional rights, I am an American citizen. That being said, I am a NRA member and proudly support them.

 

[Tommygunn]

No. The NRA is NOT a militia.
And the 2A is not limited to "militias;" that is a classic liberal misinterpretation of the amendment.

Trying to say the NRA is a militia is something that will only hurt our side .... enough antis have a bad opinion of the pro-rights people and the organizations that support them as it is.

 

[481]

In a word- No.

Although the militia is composed of "the people", the designed and intended purpose of the NRA is not that of a paramilitary organization. Different beast, different purpose.

Simply because an organization is composed of "the people", that doesn't make it a militia and the right to keep and bear arms has been ruled to be an individual right so there is no need to be in a militia to exercise your Second Amendment right.

 

[suemarkp]

It is already defined. There are two militias -- the Organized Militia and the Unorganized Militia. The Organized Militia is the National Guard. The Unorganized Militia is all males age 17-45, veterans up to age 65, a few others, and some officials are exempted.

The Militia Act created these definitions, except originally the National Guard was regulated by the states. Because many state did a poor job of training/drilling/arming their guard units, the Militia Act of 1903 made the training of the National Guard consistent with military training and provided federal money for training and members. The National Defence Act (1920's or 1930's) put the National Guard under more federal control (they were basically aligned with some military unit).

Congress has ignored its responsibility to define the standard weapon for the Unorganized Militia, to arm it, to train it, or otherwise acknowledge it.

All this being said, the first clause of the second amendment is not a restrictive one -- you don't have to be in a militia to keep and bear arms. But that was one of the reasons for enumerating the right.

 

[Shadow 7D]

It is already defined. There are two militias -- the Organized Militia and the Unorganized Militia. The Organized Militia is the National Guard. The Unorganized Militia is all males age 17-45, veterans up to age 65, a few others, and some officials are exempted.

The Militia Act created these definitions, except originally the National Guard was regulated by the states. Because many state did a poor job of training/drilling/arming their guard units, the Militia Act of 1903 made the training of the National Guard consistent with military training and provided federal money for training and members. The National Defence Act (1920's or 1930's) put the National Guard under more federal control (they were basically aligned with some military unit).

Congress has ignored its responsibility to define the standard weapon for the Unorganized Militia, to arm it, to train it, or otherwise acknowledge it.

All this being said, the first clause of the second amendment is not a restrictive one -- you don't have to be in a militia to keep and bear arms. But that was one of the reasons for enumerating the right.

Filled out your Selective service card
If the Anti you are debating uses this logic and is a female, or even a guy, point out the seletive service registration,

POINT OUT THAT WOMEN ARE BANNED FROM OWNING GUNS ACCORDING TO THEM
start attacking them for wanting to make it illegal for women to own guns, and taut your inclusion in the militia... Nothing tends to get under their skin, and point out the fallacies of their argument.

 

[HorseSoldier]

Trying to say the NRA is a militia is something that will only hurt our side .... enough antis have a bad opinion of the pro-rights people and the organizations that support them as it is.

Agreed. "Militia" and "domestic terrorist group" have become a little too synonymous with a lot of people (particularly anti-2A types) for this to be a real productive line of debate.

POINT OUT THAT WOMEN ARE BANNED FROM OWNING GUNS ACCORDING TO THEM
start attacking them for wanting to make it illegal for women to own guns, and taut your inclusion in the militia... Nothing tends to get under their skin, and point out the fallacies of their argument.

This, on the other hand, is pretty priceless