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"Shall not be infringed"
TSgt David L., PVT Mark Zehner
SGT James Murphy, CPL Dave Hoover,
CPT Jack Durish, PO3 Bob McCord,
SSgt Boyd Herrst ,SGT (Join to see),
SPC Gary Welch, SGT Mark Anderson,
CPL Douglas Chrysler, Maj Marty Hogan,
1SG Steven Imerman, SGT Gregory Lawritson,
MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi, PO1 John Johnson,
MSgt David Hoffman, COL Mikel J. Burroughs,
CW5 Jack Cardwell,
TSgt David L., PVT Mark Zehner
SGT James Murphy, CPL Dave Hoover,
CPT Jack Durish, PO3 Bob McCord,
SSgt Boyd Herrst ,SGT (Join to see),
SPC Gary Welch, SGT Mark Anderson,
CPL Douglas Chrysler, Maj Marty Hogan,
1SG Steven Imerman, SGT Gregory Lawritson,
MSgt Robert "Rock" Aldi, PO1 John Johnson,
MSgt David Hoffman, COL Mikel J. Burroughs,
CW5 Jack Cardwell,
What Is a 'Well Regulated Militia,' Anyway?
Posted from reason.com
2nd Amendment
Constitution
Self Defense
Posted 5 y ago
Responses: 8
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The Oxford English Dictionary records the usage of the hyphenated form, "well-regulated" for some 8 decades before and after the 2nd Amendment was written.
It was used to express the concept of something that was "functioning properly", that was "performing as expected", “doing as it should”. It did not have the modern connotations of "lots of government rules, regulations, and restrictions", or “governbment controlled”.
Try substituting "properly functioning" e.g. for "well-regulated" in these OED examples of usage. Then substitute "government controlled". Which makes sense?
(Note the variety of nouns modified by the adjective,)
1709: "If a liberal Education has formed in us well-regulated Appetites and worthy Inclinations."
1714: "The practice of all well-regulated courts of justice in the world."
1812: "The equation of time ... is the adjustment of the difference of time as shown by a well-regulated clock and a true sun dial."
1848: "A remissness for which I am sure every well-regulated person will blame the Major."
1862: "It appeared to her well-regulated mind, like a clandestine proceeding."
1894: "The newspaper, a never wanting adjunct to every well-regulated American embryo city."
When applied to "militia" the phrase “well regulated” would describe such an army of citizen-soldiers as "well trained", "well equipped", perhaps even "combat ready"
It was used to express the concept of something that was "functioning properly", that was "performing as expected", “doing as it should”. It did not have the modern connotations of "lots of government rules, regulations, and restrictions", or “governbment controlled”.
Try substituting "properly functioning" e.g. for "well-regulated" in these OED examples of usage. Then substitute "government controlled". Which makes sense?
(Note the variety of nouns modified by the adjective,)
1709: "If a liberal Education has formed in us well-regulated Appetites and worthy Inclinations."
1714: "The practice of all well-regulated courts of justice in the world."
1812: "The equation of time ... is the adjustment of the difference of time as shown by a well-regulated clock and a true sun dial."
1848: "A remissness for which I am sure every well-regulated person will blame the Major."
1862: "It appeared to her well-regulated mind, like a clandestine proceeding."
1894: "The newspaper, a never wanting adjunct to every well-regulated American embryo city."
When applied to "militia" the phrase “well regulated” would describe such an army of citizen-soldiers as "well trained", "well equipped", perhaps even "combat ready"
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CPL Douglas Chrysler
CW3 Harvey K. Remember Dunkirk when Churchill evacuated France? I know I would never act unless an order came from the commander in chief.
Otherwise, a well regulated militia as I see it would be like adhering to your general orders if captured.
Otherwise, a well regulated militia as I see it would be like adhering to your general orders if captured.
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SGT Mary G.
CPL Douglas Chrysler - I'm on the fence about that having had both British and Dutch ancestors who wanted to argue about who should govern "New Amsterdam"!
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SGT Mary G.
The Dutch must have done the same thing before the British did, because New York was British before the Dutch turned it into New Amsterdam, then back to the British. Some of the earliest British records seem to be nowhere to be found . . . most start with Dutch New Amsterdam. There was a lot of fluidity between England and Holland - people had family in both nations - maybe to some extent because of the religions strife in those years (like the Pilgrims, but not only the Pilgrims living in Holland). And that was an issue in the colonies too. I was surprised in the past year to learn that settlements were often based on common religion - throughout the colonies.
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So, are certain campaigns for laws by wimpy legislators only because tools used can be very effective weapons? For example, there is a real push here to ban the use of firewood. Hense the elimination of the ax.
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