Don’t Blame the 2nd Amendment
Americans Love Guns.
But…
It’s not because of our founding fathers, the Constitution, or even the 2nd Amendment.
A brief but historically accurate run down of information relating to Well Regulated Militia and Rights to bear arms.
The founders had a distrust of standing armies. It was not their intention to provide for a permanent US Army. They were generally federalists who believed in State’s rights.
This is why that immediately after the Revolutionary War, the Continental Army was disbanded. State Militias became the sole ground 'army' protecting the country until 1798.
Ongoing conflicts gave rise to the need for reinstatement of regular Army forces. We've had an active United States Army ever since 1798.
Key Dates:
1776 – U.S. Constitution Drafted
1791 - 2nd Amendment passed
1798 – Reinstatement of US Army
What should jump out is that the 2nd Amendment was passed during the time that State Militias were our countries only ‘Army’ available for national defense.
When one reviews all the language in the US Constitution relating to Militias, it becomes rather clear what the intention of the role of the State Militias were intended to be in the times leading up to passage of 2nd Amendment.
Replace Militia with Army and you have the military command and control structure we have today. There is a reference to Army in Article II Section 2 since the Continental Army was active and already fighting when it was written.
President is Commander in Chief. Congress passes funding, declares war in regards to the Army.
The Second Amendment ensures Federal protection that no single state can strip it's well trained militia, comprised of able bodied men, of it's right to posses a weapon. A weapon intended to be used only if Militia forces are called upon by the President, or Congress to defend our country.
This insurance was necessary for making sure our country was prepared to defend if need be. There was no other armed forces available to defend against a land invasion.
A job that now falls to the multi trillion dollar budgeted various branches of the US military.
Yes, Americans love guns. They don’t want to give up their guns. The founding fathers did NOT pass the 2nd Amendment with the intent to allow untrained people to obtain weapons and kill innocent people. They passed it to ensure our country could be defended, because there was no other option in 1791.
Supporting language from the Constitution for those still reading.
Article I Section 8 – Powers of Congress
To (Congress will) provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;
To (Congress will) provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;
Article II Section 2 – Powers of the President
The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States;
Second Amendment – Passed in 1791
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.