Under the spirit of the second amendment, the Nati...

2009-06-29T07:45:42.627-05:00

Under the spirit of the second amendment, the National Guard doesn't qualify as a militia (nor do police or full-time military branches), as they are controlled, paid, and organized by the government. Current courts have decided that the Nat Guard qualifies as a militia, but historically, this is not accurate.

The second amendment, in a historical context, was penned to ensure that the population as a whole has a way to stand between their basic liberties and tyranny - be it foreign powers invading, domestic government run amok, or a simple home invader. Militias were not organized by the government, they were organized by the people SEPARATE from the government. Police and other military-style units get their arms, orders, and pay directly from Uncle Sam. That is a direct conflict of interest with the second amendment.

The founders wanted a way for people to "fix" the government should it become tyrannical and despotic - the entire context behind the Revolutionary War. They also wanted people to have the rights to defend themselves. However, since the courts have interpretive power over the Bill of Rights, the natural degradation of this right should be expected. For obvious reasons, this rights limits their power. Thus hindering it assists in avoiding civil disobedience and unrest.

Comments on What Would Mama Say?: Know Your Constitution - Second Amendment

Under the spirit of the second amendment, the Nati...