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In reply to the discussion: The Second Amendment raises an important question. [View all]jody
(26,624 posts)19. I picked them because they were the first states to declare rights and they were written before our
Constitution.
Heller's opinion and dissent both used the PA and VT constitutions and the dissent said
The parallels between the Second Amendment and these state declarations, and the Second Amendment's omission of any statement of purpose related to the right to use firearms for hunting or personal self-defense, is especially striking in light of the fact that the Declarations of Rights of Pennsylvania and Vermont did expressly protect such civilian uses at the time. Article XIII of Pennsylvania's 1776 Declaration of Rights announced that "the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state," 1 Schwartz 266 (emphasis added); §43 of the Declaration assured that "the inhabitants of this state shall have the liberty to fowl and hunt in seasonable times on the lands they hold, and on all other lands therein not inclosed," id., at 274. And Article XV of the 1777 Vermont Declaration of Rights guaranteed "hat the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the State." Id., at 324 (emphasis added). The contrast between those two declarations and the Second Amendment reinforces the clear statement of purpose announced in the Amendment's preamble. It confirms that the Framers' single-minded focus in crafting the constitutional guarantee "to keep and bear arms" was on military uses of firearms, which they viewed in the context of service in state militias.
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nice try but most gun users & killers are not psychopaths - most gun toting killers are sane nt
msongs
Dec 2012
#1
You completely missed the point as well as what the 2nd Amendment actually says nt
Sarah Ibarruri
Dec 2012
#61
Congress has all the authority it needs for the militia in Article I, Section 8, clauses 15 & 16.
jody
Dec 2012
#5
Please read PA(1776) & VT(1777) constitutions and learn about the right to defend self and property.
jody
Dec 2012
#7
Apparently you haven't read the Heller opinion. State constitutions written before our Constitutions
jody
Dec 2012
#11
I picked them because they were the first states to declare rights and they were written before our
jody
Dec 2012
#19
The right of the people to keep and bear arms is in support of the well regulated Militia, so
JoePhilly
Dec 2012
#37
You should also notice it makes no mention of the "purchase" of said weapons.
JoePhilly
Dec 2012
#14
And "sale and purchase is not mentioned" for tools to exercise the other rights. What BS.
jody
Dec 2012
#16
I found your post difficult to follow. You say "Essentially you lack knowledge of subordinate
jody
Dec 2012
#67
We disagree. Please explain why the opinion and dissent discussions of the clauses do not
jody
Dec 2012
#69
I think you got this right ... those who don't want to find a solution prefer to
JoePhilly
Dec 2012
#31
A well regulated Militia says nothing about how we care for the mentally ill.
JoePhilly
Dec 2012
#49
Joe. never mind. I am self-deleting. You guys have fun. I am outta this thread.
Tuesday Afternoon
Dec 2012
#52
I'm not sure we are having fun ... but you should as always decide where you want to debate
JoePhilly
Dec 2012
#53
In a day and age where the Constitution has been trampled by the Bush Admin
rhett o rick
Dec 2012
#46
Interestingly enough, every time someone speaks in front of an NRA backdrop these days,
Buns_of_Fire
Dec 2012
#71