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What does the Second Amendment really mean?

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What does the Second Amendment really mean?

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At the time it was written, the Second Amendment referred to militias that were organizations of private citizens who could be (and often were) called up on short notice for the common defense. They were expected to bring their own personal weapons (muskets, bayonets, etc.) and supplies for short term service. The organizations themselves often owned more sophisticated weapons like cannons that could be manned by the private citizens when they were called up. When the Brits marched on Lexington & Concord they were attempting to confiscate the artillery and supplies held by local militia units like the Minutemen. The Founders considered militia units to be necessary (and they were right at the time) both for defense against local enemies (Indians, and the French and Spanish powers on the borders) and against oppressive local government, then the Brits, but they had a deep suspicion of local government’s tendency to become oppressive as well. Those guys were genuine revolutionaries after

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The Bill of Rights (the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution) was passed to allay fears that the national government could become too large and powerful. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bill_of_Rights The text of the Bill of Rights is set forth below: Amendment I fn2 [ Annotations ] Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. Amendment II [ Annotations ] A well regulated Mili

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In taking on the case of the DC Handgun ban. I think the second amendment means that everyone who is not a felon and has not been committed to a psychiatric hospital has the right to own and use handguns, rifles and shotguns as the wish as long as they don’t infringe on anyone elses rights with them. Lawful use includes protection of self and others, hunting and target shooting. I hope the handgun ban will be struck down. It certainly has not reduced crime in DC or anywhere else. A militia can be able-bodied armed citizens, not just the National Guard.

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The purpose of the second amendment was so the state could defend itself against an overbearing federal government. During the times of the colonies, every white landowning man possessed a weapon and could be called up to serve in the state militia. Therfore, the militia, especially a well organized one, would be the state national guard – although not under the control of the president or DOD but the governor. So, unless you belong to the state militia, you should not have the ability to own a gun – I think if the US ever gets a supreme court to hear the case with judges who understand the constitution, this will be the end result – no more gun ownership by private citizens and only by those people in the state militia.

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