The Second Amendment was Ratified to Preserve Slavery

[Ninga]

25. Some quick thoughts from my daughter that may or may not speak to your question.

Our “Founding Fathers” had a pretty narrow definition of what constituted a “responsible citizen.” Remembering that when the Constitution went into effect, the only folks eligible to vote (i.e. participate in the governing process) were white, male land-owners. We’ve broadened that view quite a bit; however, as we ask ourselves what their intentions were when writing the elements of the Constitution, it is good to keep in mind just whom they were considering fit the mold. Can you imagine how they would have reacted to people outside their definition owning firearms?

2. The manufacture of firearms using interchangeable parts, and therefore making firearms that could be afforded by the “average citizen”, did not occur until 1845 (and was kicked into high gear by the Civil War). Research of wills in the era prior to the Civil War shows that when a firearm was owned it was a definitely listed as a key part of the estate (i.e. it was one of the more valuable items owned by the person making the will). The research also shows that very few wills included firearms—i.e. not a lot of people had them. Doesn’t support the concept that the Founding Fathers wrote the 2nd Amendment with the idea that every person was to be given the right to have personal firearms.

Am in the throws of research that the firearms used by these militias were owned by (in this case) plantation owners or the like and issued to the members of their militias when the militia was active—kind of like what happens with our National Guard today (they don’t get to take their assault weapons home with them either.