Sunday, May 09, 2010 "We The People" Part V

Sunday, May 09, 2010

"We The People" Part V

Amendment II

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.

Let's define a few words here:

MILI'TIA, n. [L. from miles, a soldier; Gr. war, to fight, combat, contention. The primary sense of fighting is to strive, struggle, drive, or to strike, to beat, Eng. moil, L. molior; Heb. to labor or toil.] 

The body of soldiers in a state enrolled for discipline, but not engaged in actual service except in emergencies; as distinguished from regular troops, whose sole occupation is war or military service. The militia of a country is the able-bodied men organized into companies, regiments, and brigades, with officers of all grades, and required by law to attend military exercises on certain days only, but at other times left to pursue their usual occupations. - (Webster’s 1828)

This is interesting using Mr. Webster’s 1828 dictionary, seeing he would have viewed the meaning to possibly refer to a group being distinguished from the regular troops. I have heard gun control advocates use this phrase to refer only to the militia, being understood by the above definition. This to me would seem to be the original intent had the independent phase, “the right of the people to keep and bear arms” not been added. This is an added thought following the militia and I would have to take it at its face value, “the people”.

PEOPLE, n. [L. populus.]
1. The body of persons who compose a community, town, city or nation. We say, the people of a town; the people of London or Paris; the English people. In this sense, the word is not used in the plural, but it comprehends all classes of inhabitants, considered as a collective body, or any portion of the inhabitants of a city or country. - (Webster’s 1828)

Now, let us read this Amendment in light of Mr. Webster’s 1828 understanding and see if we can discern the original intent.

A well - regulated ( body of soldiers in a state . . .) being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the (people of a community, town, city or nation . . .) to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. (INFRING'ED, pp. Broken; violated; transgresses.) - Webster’s 1828.

Now if I am an American Citizen and want to keep and bear arms, (a gun or weapon) I would understand that I have that right. The Constitution through this Amendment protects that right from being infringed upon by authority. The Government would not have the authority to infringe upon that desire.

The state would have the right to draw upon the benefits of that community, town, city, or nation to form a well-regulated militia for its security and defense in emergencies.
What a wonderful document of freedom, the joy of its simplicity.

May God bless each of you,
David