Could you please explain the second amendment?

Question

are you for or against it?

Answer 1

The right to bear arms openly–adopted with reference to state militias–is guaranteed by the Second Amendment.

[edit] Text
The Second Amendment, as passed by the House and Senate and later ratified by the States, reads:

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.

The hand-written copy of the Bill of Rights which hangs in the National Archives had slightly different capitalization and punctuation inserted by William Lambert, the scribe who prepared it. This copy reads:

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.

Both versions are commonly used by "official" Government publications.


Please note that it says, a well regulated militia, not vigilantes. In American society we have rights PROVIDED they do not infringe on the rights of others. I support the second amendment, but urge prudence in unregulated arms floating around my community. We have freedom of speech, but we may not yell FIRE in a crowded theater. There are no absolutes. In a well ordered society people make concessions for the greater good.

Answer 2

The Second Amendment declares an individual Right, not a collective right. The states militias are the National Guard and, betcha didn't know, the Highway Patrol. The unorganized militia is EVERY American over 18 yeard old. Nobody has to own a gun if they don't want to. Everybody else absolutely CAN own one or as many as they want, if they choose to. The PEOPLE is the key words here. We are the People. No politician or judge can LEGALLY deny law-abiding citizens guns just because they don't like them. It's those few that are trying to make illegal and unconstitutional laws against guns because they know the REAL reasons the Second Amendment was put in the Bill of Rights. It is to give US, the People, the power to resist and change an out of control government, by force if necessary. THAT'S what they are afraid of! liberals want us under their thumbs so they can tell us "Do as I say, not as I do." And THAT is the whole truth of the matter.

Answer 3

I can not say I understand the entire thing, some was about the federal government being able to go after a uprising from a man named Shays who led a revolt against the government because of the high taxes and the jailings of farmers who didnt pay them, he wanted more Democratic political system, They pretty much used it as a way to make a army against ANYONE including other countries AND groups from within our own country that would revolt against the government. I believe the 2nd amendment was more about a federal army than the right to bear arms by the normal citizen, But I do not know all the facts, they have used the 2nd in all different ways. I am interested in what people will say.

Answer 4

2nd amendment plus a position on it...ok.

The second amendment to the Constitution basically states that
there's a need for a militia, a body of people that are drawn from the citizens, who will need to defend themselves against a foreign army, in this case the british army, that once ruled the 13 colonies by force. This militia must have its' arms to be effective.
Therefore, since any citizen could be part of that militia, all citizens must be able to bear arms to serve that need.

I support the Second Amendment, I also support gun laws. I think some people out there are just plain flat crazy, and some of those are violently minded. Guns make it a lot easier to harm others...just read about Iraq.
Don't worry about guns, they'll always be around...be concerned about the people holding them...

Answer 5

I'm for it of course-- its IN the constitution so of course I'm for it.

That said, it is not a free-for-all just like freedom of speech is not a free for all. Like it or not, there will be some limitations to owning weapons. I don't think the gov would allow me to own a stinger missile or fully functioning tank. Or how about I go and buy the battleship MIssouri with fully functioning guns. Not going to happen.

I do have to say though, that it is a poorly worded amendment that is ripe for interpretation or misinterpretation. Does the first part really refer to states rights to a well regulated Militia? Who does "the people" really refer to- Private citizens, the states, etc. These are questions that have been asked for years-- and will continue to be asked, debated and litigated.

2nd Amendment says....
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.

Answer 6

It means you can keep and carry weapons, and the govt is not allowed to prevent it.

Politicians who fear independant free people are against the 2nd amendment because personal weapons are power.

The 2nd Amendment is there to enable the governed to overthrow the government when the government is no longer responsive to the governed.

Law abiding citizens should be allowed to own whatever they like.

Answer 7

The second amendment is straightforward stating,"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."

What I don't understand is what part of "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed" is it that has our 'lawmakers' so terrified.

Answer 8

For it! It protects the first amendment that's why it was picked to be second. You can't have the first without the second.

Answer 9

Definetly "for"
A single armed man- even if mad- in an armed society poses no danger. However this armed society is safe from the madness of the politicians. If you doubt this, please remember that Hitler was democratically elected- and only after that he began abusing power.
I know that should such a situation arise, this potentially means a civil war. But civil war is the equivalent of nuclear deterrent- it has to be believable if it is to be avoided.

Answer 10

A corrupt government fears a armed public.
Gun registration was used by the Nazis to hunt down all that opposed them.
Take away my right to keep and bear arms, you are no better than a Nazi.