Founders Understood Connection Between Gun Rights and Liberty

Founders Understood Connection Between Gun Rights and Liberty
Carolina Journal Online
February 14. 2013
Dr. Troy Kickler, NC History Project

Founders Understood Connection Between Gun Rights and Liberty--


The meaning of the Second Amendment is being debated once again. Other than in general terms, few discuss the amendment’s origins, the reasons for its inclusion in the Bill of Rights, or how the constitutional framers and ratifiers and early jurists interpreted the amendment.

But such a discussion gets to the heart of the matter. The Second Amendment reads: “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.”

“Gun controllers” interpret “militia” to be a professional unit such as the National Guard. The National Guard Association was not formed until 1878, however, and the wholesale nationalization and professionalization of the militia, the modern-day National Guard, did not occur until the Dick Militia Act of 1903.

Many “gun rights” Americans claim a broad, individualist interpretation: Each American has a right to own a firearm for sport, hunting, or personal protection. (This is not absolute; for instance, felons cannot own firearms legally, and respective states, wisely or unwisely, can regulate gun ownership without violating the Second Amendment.)

CONTINUED:  http://www.carolinajournal.com/daily_journal/display.html?id=9900