What does the Second Amendment protect?

Question

Since there apparently will be no "grace period" while the dead are buried, I'll have to join in.

What is the history behind this amendment? What did the drafters intend? Specifically, what is the meaning of the first clause of the sentence, and what did "a well-regulated militia" mean at the time of drafting? Do earlier drafts of the amendment, and debates, shed any light on this?

Yes, I could do the research myself, but this is my favorite kind of question to ask - it invites "advocates" on all sides to present their case, for all to see.

Any citations, etc, would be welcome.

Don't try to guess my views. I want to know yours - and most importantly, the drafters'!

Thanks.

Answer 1

The Founders drew upon centuries of history and the understanding of that history. They were far better versed in Classical cultures and European history than we are today (myself included). The lesson throughout history is that an armed populace is the certain deterrence to tyranny. And the lesson is that it is also your right, responsibility, and duty to protect your own life and the lives of those closest to you.

As for the history professor, the Founders never imagined today's media, with radio, television, and the internet. The swiftness with which lies can propagate would have astounded them. However, we don't consider modification to the First Amendment in response to it. Being a history professor does not automatically imbue intellectual honesty.

If you really want to know what the Founders thought, then do the research. You will be more enlightened than you would be from listening to us ramble :) Here are some great sources:

Answer 2

"Yes, I could do the research myself" - this isn't research??

Off the top of my head -

The framers wanted to be sure that citizens in all states could form an effective militia to overthrow a tyrant, and of course, a modern, 18th century well-regulated militia would be useless without muskets. So they added the right to bear arms which was not in an earlier draft.

Further arms regulation was left to the states by virtue of the Tenth Amendment.

Answer 3

My guess is that the reason why the Second Amendment was added to the Constitution was because the US had just finished fighting Britain. Also, the Treaty of Paris of 1783 stated that US territory would stretch all the way to the Mississippi. Much of that land was still occupied largely by Native Americans, and since a lot of whites wanted to settle that land, they had to have some means of fighting the natives.The US was still a very young nation and its people still had to protect themselves from danger, whether it be from domestic or foreign sources.

Answer 4

I dated a history professor once and we got into an interesting discussion about the second amendment. He said that at the time the weapons that the draftors were familuar with required approximately three minutes to load and fire. He argued that they couldn't even conceive of an AK47 being in someone's home. Also I'm an ancestor of one of the draftors, Elbridge Gerry, and I think I remember him being one of the only people to vote against the Constitution because of the second amendment- although I could be wrong.

Answer 5

"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed." --Thomas Jefferson to John Cartwright, 1824. ME 16:45

"One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them." --Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1796. ME 9:341

Answer 6

The right for anyone of any level IQ, with any number of mental health issues, with any aberrant political agenda, with road rage issues, with a nagging spouse, to own a concealed gun legally. Per NRA/ talking point #10243

Answer 7

It protects the right to regulate the militia.