A Well Regulated Militia
Imminently, so I’m told, the opinions for the Heller vs. DC case will be rendered by the Supreme Court. No matter how it turns out, we cannot say that there has not been considerable deliberation. That is a good thing, because there is a lot at stake.
From a Huntsville Times Editorial
The high court keeps America waiting a few more days
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.
What do those words really mean? What did they mean when they were ratified as the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution? What do they mean today?
. . .
On Monday, a ruling in D.C. v. Heller was expected, but it didn’t come. Because the justices usually decide cases shortly after they are argued (this one was argued in March), the delay may well have to do with language - the language of the majority, the language of the minority, or both. If ever there was a case where words mattered, it’s this one.
UPDATE: No decision today (6/25) on Heller. Tomorrow for sure, since it is the last SCOTUS session. Follow the proceedings on www.scotusblog.com or live blog.
2 Responses to “A Well Regulated Militia”
Flick on 25 Jun 2008 at 0443 #
In Federalist Paper No. 29, Alexander Hamilton clarifies that “well regulated” does not mean restricted, but rather well trained, armed, and equipped. Hamilton also distinguishes the militia, consisting of “a large body of citizens,” from what we now call the National Guard.
That with rights come responsibilities is widely if not universally accepted. So what is the responsibility that comes with the right to keep and bear arms? It’s in the opening phrase of the Second Amendment. “Owning guns and complaining to your representatives being sufficient to the security of a free state,…” Right? Well that’s what most gun owners seem to think.
For any who wish to take seriously the responsibility that comes with the right to keep and bear arms, I’d like to invite you to explore today’s militia at http://www.awrm.org. We might surprise you, especially if you still believe what the mainstream media and groups like the SPLC say about us.
Minstrel on 25 Jun 2008 at 0737 #
Thanks for the comments, Flick. And for the link to AWRM.
According to http://www.scotusblog.com, the heller case will not be decided today (6/25) so there will be more waiting.