General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Gun Writer is suddenly a pariah. [View all]NutmegYankee
(16,199 posts)The first part is a justification for the amendment, not a limit. Because the founding fathers opposed standing armies (see Article 1 Section 8 limit on funding), seeing them as tools of oppression, they needed a civilian population who was armed and familiar enough with them to be called up in a hurry to form a defensive force. The best example was the Battle of New Orleans. In the above, regulate is the "to maintain or put in order" definition of regulate. For instance, Napoleon had well regulated Army Corps, with which he crushed most opposition in Europe. I mention Napoleon because his methods of warfare forever changed the concept of militias. It was apparent after that era that armies needed to be professionally trained.
James Madison, known as the father of the Constitution, also helped draft the bill of rights. Below is his original wording:
The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; a well armed and well regulated militia being the best security of a free country; but no person religiously scrupulous of bearing arms shall be compelled to render military service in person.