This has been mentioned before, but not so specifically i think. Posting in a discussion re: militia vs individual on another site let me think it is important enough to have it mentioned here.
Article 1 section 8 of the Constitution gave Congress the power "To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;"
In the 1st Congress, during debates on what became the 2nd Amend., Rep Thomas Scott of Pennsylvania said: [religious exemption] would mean that "a militia can never be depended upon. This would lead to the violation of another article in the Constitution, which secures to the people the right of keeping arms"
Soo - it was well-known that A1 S8 ALREADY ensured the right of the people WITH REGARDS to a militia to keep and bear arms. There was NO NEED for the 2nd IF it only referred to a "collective" miltia, that was already covered!
Obviously the right protected by the 2nd was a personal one - exactly as it says!
Article 1 section 8 of the Constitution gave Congress the power "To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;"
In the 1st Congress, during debates on what became the 2nd Amend., Rep Thomas Scott of Pennsylvania said: [religious exemption] would mean that "a militia can never be depended upon. This would lead to the violation of another article in the Constitution, which secures to the people the right of keeping arms"
Soo - it was well-known that A1 S8 ALREADY ensured the right of the people WITH REGARDS to a militia to keep and bear arms. There was NO NEED for the 2nd IF it only referred to a "collective" miltia, that was already covered!
Obviously the right protected by the 2nd was a personal one - exactly as it says!
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