The Second Amendment states: “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”.
Until recently, this was always understood to mean that each State had the right to maintain its own militia. It was included in the Constitution as a response to the practice of the British Army occupying State land during disputes between local governments and the Crown.
The first 5 amendments were all written in direct opposition to the Intolerable Acts of 1774. The State Representatives at the time, wanted guarantees written into the Constitution, that such infringements on their right to self-determination could not be repeated by the Federal Government they were about to join.
The Second Amendment states: “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”.
Until recently, this was always understood to mean that each State had the right to maintain its own militia. It was included in the Constitution as a response to the practice of the British Army occupying State land during disputes between local governments and the Crown.
The first 5 amendments were all written in direct opposition to the Intolerable Acts of 1774. The State Representatives at the time, wanted guarantees written into the Constitution, that such infringements on their right to self-determination could not be repeated by the Federal Government they were about to join.