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Chantilly Say posted:The law, though not the Constitution, defines the militia as being made up of two parts: the organized militia (the national guard) and the unorganized militia (any male citizen between 17-45 who isn't in the military). The amendment reads awkwardly to us now, but at the time it was understood to mean that any man could buy and own... well, any weapon, really, since it was understood that many men of the time were members of their locally organized, self-regulating militia. You could have a cannon if you wanted! Yeah man that sounds well regulated to me.
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Mar 20, 2015 19:29
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Chantilly Say posted:In the way we understand those words now, or in the way they were understood in 1789? No I'm afraid there is no way the phrase "well regulated militia" can reasonably be construed to mean "all the young and middle aged men in the country". Sorry.
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Mar 20, 2015 19:38
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Chantilly Say posted:The founders also thought "a black person" could reasonably be construed to mean "3/5ths of a white person" so confusion about who's doing the regulating in the phrase "well-regulated militia" is like missing the slave-raping forest for the trees, frankly. I mean I guess that's one way of putting it for people who can't be bothered with the nuances of political compromise. Hint: you're misinterpreting the three fifths compromise.
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Mar 20, 2015 20:14
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