Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: Honest question. If gun rights supporters are idiots... [View all]Kang Colby
(1,941 posts)is that at no point in U.S. history was firearm ownership limited to the militia. If you believe the militia argument, you are also forced to believe that near the beginning of the Bill of Rights, Amendments clearly designed to limit governmental power and to protect citizens, is a statement designed to enable the government to raise militias and to keep individuals from owning firearms. You must believe this despite the fact that in Article I Section 8 of the US Constitution the Congress is given the power "To raise and support armies."
As if it couldn't get any worse, you have the state constitutions.
Kentucky: The right of the citizens to bear arms in defence of themselves and the State shall not be questioned. (1792)
Vermont: The people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the State -- and as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up; and that the military should be kept under strict subordination to and governed by the civil power (1777)
Pennsylvania: That the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state; and as standing armies in the time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up; And that the military should be kept under strict subordination, to, and governed by, the civil power (1776).
Etc., so on, and so forth.