Virginia History / Second Amendment

[hugh damright]

1775: Friction between the King and his American Colonies was building. British troops were kept in the Colonies to keep them in check. The spin was that the troops were here for our protection, but the French and Indian War was over, and Virginians did not need or want British troops here. Virginians conceived that, as a matter of principle, a standing army in times of peace is a danger to free government. And they declared that the proper defense of a free State is militia composed of the people. The July, 1775 issue of Gentleman's Magazine reported:

In Virginia at a meeting of the delegates of the colony, it has been unanimously resolved that a well-regulated militia, composed of gentlemen and yeomen is the natural strength and only security of a free government, and that the establishment of such a militia is at this time particularly necessary, and that a plan for arming, embodying and disciplining such a number of men as may be sufficient for that purpose should be immediately carried into execution.

1776: Virginia adopted a Declaration of Rights which included an Article declaring that the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free State is well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms:

That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that, in all cases, the military should be under strict subordination to, and be governed by, the civil power.

1788: Virginia ratified the US Constitution, while requesting amendments and a bill of rights with an article which read:

That the people have a right to keep and bear arms; that a well regulated Militia composed of the body of the people trained to arms is the proper, natural and safe defence of a free State. That standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, and therefore ought to be avoided, as far as the circumstances and protection of the Community will admit; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to and governed by the Civil power.

1791: The US Bill of Rights becomes effective, the Second Amendment declaring:

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.

 

[Malum Prohibitum]

2006

Care to fill in the blank?

 

[hugh damright]

The way I understand written constitutions, the Second Amendment means the same thing in 2006 that it meant when it was ratified in 1791.

 

[Kim]

Written constitution --------depends. A left liberal believes or feeeelllsssssss it means whatever wild legal theory they can push through the courts. A right conservative states it means what is written. Otherwise why have a written constitution at all. We could be like the UK. Liberal looks at the Constitution and see swiss cheese with all the holes and loopholes, a conservative looks at the Constiution and see a solid strong old oak tree.