I appreciate the quotes,
RS, I just don't think that they truly reflect the breadth of thought of the times. As you may know, I believe that the Second Amendment does reflect an individual's right to possess and bear firearms, but even Jefferson recognized that that right was intended to be of limited utility, as he supported the proposition in the Virginia legislature that the right was intended to be to possess and bear within the confines of one's property firearms, and to make them available as needed by the militia.
Jefferson's proposal for the Virginia Constitution affirmed that, "No free man shall be debarred the use of arms [within his own lands or tenements].
Indeed, the initial legislation on the issue contained a requirement that if one did not possess personal weapons, they were to acquire them for the purpose of provisioning the militia.
That each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is herein after excepted) shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the militia, by the Captain or Commanding Officer of the company, within whose bounds such citizen shall reside, and that within twelve months after the passing of this Act. And it shall at all time hereafter be the duty of every such Captain or Commanding Officer of a company, to enroll every such citizen as aforesaid, and also those who shall, from time to time, arrive at the age of 18 years, or being at the age of 18 years, and under the age of 45 years (except as before excepted) shall come to reside within his bounds; and shall without delay notify such citizen of the said enrollment, by the proper non-commissioned Officer of the company, by whom such notice may be proved. That every citizen, so enrolled and notified, shall, within six months thereafter, provide himself with a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, and a knapsack, a pouch, with a box therein, to contain not less than twenty four cartridges, suited to the bore of his musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of power and ball; or with a good rifle, knapsack, shot-pouch, and power-horn, twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a power of power; and shall appear so armed, accoutred and provided, when called out to exercise or into service, except, that when called out on company days to exercise only, he may appear without a knapsack.
It seems surprising to me, then, that modern anti-control advocates forget that the requirement to register as a member of the militia is as old as the organization itself. They seem overly concerned that guns must be registered, yet that is clearly the implication of the earliest legislation, a provision that is conveniently overlooked. My point is primarily to say two things: While the right to keep and bear arms is for an individual, the overriding purpose for that was to provide arms for the militia in times of emergency. Second, that viewing it as primarily a bulwark against federal government intrusion is a convenient modern construction and was
not the primary motivation for its inclusion in the Constitution.
