General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Is there any reasonable argument that the second amendment is actually a good thing? [View all]jmg257
(11,996 posts)Who cares what Madison and Jefferson thought on this issue - really? The Union didn't have standing armies because we didn't want standing armies; yes there was great fear of those banes of liberty.
But that was then. Since, the PEOPLE decided (a long time ago) that the constitutional well-regulated militia IS NOT necessary for the security of a free state. That they aren't even the best security of a free state.
No. The people identified the numerous down-sides of citizen militia, even well-regulated ones,.
Instead, we decided we MUCH prefer a huge standing army, a kick-ass navy, and a select militia regulated AND armed by the federal govt.
This is what makes the primary purpose of the 2nd obsolete. The people found that they really weren't all that worried about standing armies, or the threat of a tyrannical govt. And that they much prefered the former to citizen militias, and having to fullfill their duty to serve in them.
Yes - we all get a bone being in "the unorganized miltia", but that entity is pretty much useless for securing the state's freedom. Being armed with regards to this class of militia is little more then catering to the selfish wants and needs of inidividuals.