Well-regulated militia

[Spock]

[AvidshooterTX]

If you are a male US citizen between 17 and 45 you are already part of the militia by US code.

TITLE 10 > Subtitle A > PART I > CHAPTER 13 > § 311Prev | Next § 311. Militia: composition and classes
(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.
(b) The classes of the militia are—
(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and
(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia. Search this title:

Title 10 of the US Code as currently published by the US Government reflects the laws passed by Congress as of Jan. 5, 2009, and it is this version that is published here.

[r4fthrs]

Here in Indiana we have had that concept since before I was born. They are called `sportsman' clubs they were in all most ever county and had range facilities for almost any shooting activity. Your motivation for belonging was entirely up to you, thus keeping it all below the liberal radar.

[Spock]

I VA it's 2nd amendment right but I have a c.p. just for certain.

[Bookwalter]

Though Democrats may be more overt regarding weapons grabbing, it has been the Republicans who have more seriously eroded our economy, strengthening the 1% while making it more and more expensive for us average joes to get by. Did the assault weapons ban ever keep you from obtaining a weapon? Probably not, it just made them more expensive and fed the underground arms movement (criminals, thugs and thieves). Bush/Cheney bought their elections (the evidence is there, just look for it) and fought for the 1% and their associated oil/war buddies, which has, and continues to, do much more damage than the weapons ban ever did.

President Eisenhower said, in his farewell speech "Now this conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience. The total influence -- economic, political, even spiritual --is felt in every city, every Statehouse, every office of the Federal government. We recognize the imperative need for this development. Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications. Our toil, resources, and livelihood are all involved. So is the very structure of our society.

In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together."

Think Haliburton. Did you know Condoleeza Rice, Bush' Secretary of State, was a Director with Chevron, and has an oil tanker named after her? ( Chevron's "The Condoleezza Rice" ). There are many other instances I could rant about for days, and it's not just the Republicans. Our government is out of control.

Why do you suppose that we are taught to hate the French? We are told that they are unable to defend themselves, and are general whiners. But in France, the government fears their citizens. Without weapons or violence, the people gather together and stand against the government whenever they feel the government is overstepping their bounds. The people there have the ability to shut down the country, by simply organizing and demanding change. What a horrible example for us Americans. What shameful behavior by the French, standing up for themselves in the face of their government. We Americans and our freedoms could never stand for such civil disobedience. What do we think this is, a Democracy? This is a Capitalist country, no longer a Democracy. The government is bigger and has all the money, so they are in charge, who are we to question them? Get in line, and accept whats given to or taken from you. If you can't buy influence, don't expect to be heard, unless it's your dying squeal. Whats that, pry your weapon from your cold, dead hands? Sounds easier than taking it from a living, willful individual. Besides, what are you going to shoot with when there's no ammunition?

[milkmood]

Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state. -Thomas Jefferson

Yes...and this is how Switzerland functions even today. When a man leaves the military, he keeps the weapon(s) issued to him, and is expected to stand as a citizen military for a minimum of ten years after his departure from the Swiss military. It's just normal there.

Let Switzerland be an example. The twisty thing about that is...Switzerland is a socialist country. Read this:

Gun politics in Switzerland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[rayven]

The militia consists of all able bodied people who would be able to fight for the nation should it ever be needed.

The term "well regulated" means "well armed", based on the writing style of the late 18th century.

To pare the second amendment down to modern writing, it would read something like:

"A well armed citizenry, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the citizens to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

[Piece Corps]

It was missed in the original post that a mere 3% of the population of the colonies at the time of the Revolution actually defended the country. Three per cent! Today, this would amount to around 3,000,000 people with guns. That is not a number to ignore, and the government knows these numbers very well.

And I don't think that Obama wants to start seeing shoot-outs at private residences when they come for our guns. Which WILL happen if they decide to go "Branch Davidian" on us. This won't be a replay of Nazi Germany, folks.

If Obama had the power that he thinks he has, we'd be mired in health care by now, there would be cap & trade, and the unions would control every job in America. Hasn't happened yet, and that is because the people are waking up and doing something about it. Why do you think Democrats are resigning left and right? Obama's fairy tale is crumbling, and if he want;s it to get worse, he can try to take our guns away.

I don't think that's gonna happen!

[AvidshooterTX]

By U.S. code most adult males are already officially in the militia so the point is moot.

[G50AE]

Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of a social organization, like Knights of Columbus or the local country club, consisting of [I]citizens[I] sharing a common interest: firearm safety. No maneuvers, no LE, just a group that meets a couple times a month to discuss gun safety, laws, etc, and possibly do some shooting. Have a guset speaker from the NRA, LE, Handguns Inc. (defusing the "us against them" mindset), hopefully with the cooperstion of local LE. Already thought about possible ramifications; LE knowing who has what, that sort of thing, bu if you are a legitimate gun owner, they probably already know anyway.

The goal is to provide an alternative view of the much-demonized "gun nut", dressed in camo, arguing the 2nd Ammendment with anyone who will listen, skulking around in search of someone to shoot and get away with it. The group I have in mind could sponsor public gun safety seminars, perhaps even working with the schools in some capacity. The major focus would be on gun safety and responsible use/ownership. No "tactical field training, public demonstrations, keep it as a-politcal as possible. Perhaps an occassional letter to the paper, carefully written so as not to alarm the dis-armers.

If we are going to keep our guns legally, we dare not sit on our haunches and wait for someone else to win the battle. We need to show the avrage gun owner as they really are; the next-door-neighbor, football coach, accountant, EMT, doctor, and so on, not just the Freemen of Montana, Hinkleys and Chapmans, and gang-bangers. We need to take a firm stance against vigilanteism, armed citizens patrolling the neighborhoods, and so on. We have police, etc, for that.

The type of orginization that you are describing, already exists. It was founded shortly after the civil war by several Union Army generals, including its first president, Ambrose Burnsides. Today it is America's oldest and largest civil rights orginization. It's called the National Rifle Association. You should realy check them out. Their website is NRA