General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I no longer give two f*cks about your 2nd Amendment rights. [View all]De Leonist
(225 posts)America's organized professional military was a rather small section of it's military forces with the rest being militia. If we were to follow a literal interpretation all able bodied adults in this country would either be professional full-time military or they would be National Guard, Coast Guard, Reservists, etc. Not a bad idea really since it would certainly lower Americas' obesity rate.
Also the "individual right" argument vs the "militia" argument is kind of a false dichotomy. We have a right to bear arms so we may bear them in defense of our Country and so that we may bear them in defense of our rights against our government. The two ideas aren't necessarily at odds.
But that is simply a historical interpretation of the 2nd Amendment. Modern interpretation is a different matter.