Panther
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My Heart beats True for the Red White & Blue...
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AiA wrote on Feb 25 th, 2018 at 2:27pm: Seldom does anyone ask what the hell a "well-regulated militia" was. They are mentioned so they must have existed, right? And they did exist. Their function was to keep the slaves from uprising. A well regulated (well trained....self-trained, trained by a relative, or trained by friend(s).....efficient person or persons....) Militia - any able bodied person or persons, above the age of majority (which could be one individual up to & including an army of individuals....Women were also permitted in militias) well regulated in the use of firearms.
A Militia's function was defense from, among other functions, Indians (redskins....aborigines....natives), French, English, Spanish, Canadians, Mexicans, criminals of all kinds, & dangerous animals. Not to forget the most important potential enemy, the government.
Based on the fact that an "uprising" of any group, be they Escaped Slaves, or Heavy Drinkers in the Whiskey Rebellion of 1791, an "uprising" of any group could be a danger to any number of people, & society in general, so those persons having firearms (almost everyone in the late 1700's & the early 1800's) would/could be called upon with the familiar call, "to arms....to arms" so each individual would get hold of their firearm(s), powder, & shot to defend & protect those in danger.....be they but one, a group, a neighborhood, or a town.
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.
Two (2) independent, distinct, but related clauses.....a Prefatory Clause , & an Operative Clause .
Which could be better understood by those totally unfamiliar with the mindset of those who wrote the second amendment to the US Constitution, which could be better understood this way:
Because 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.
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