Second Amendment: Understanding The Militia Clause

[Talyn]

When Americans debate the Second Amendment, most of the focus tends to center around the individual right to keep and bear arms. This emphasis, especially in post-Heller and McDonald jurisprudence, is both understandable and historically justified.

However, a recurring error—committed even by Second Amendment advocates—is to treat the “militia clause” as a relic or a throwaway preamble. This oversight is more than a mere historical misstep; it’s a strategic blunder that endangers the very right these advocates claim to protect.

The Second Amendment: Understanding The Militia Clause

While the Second Amendment guarantees our right to keep and bear arms, we can't forget about the importance of the militia clause.

gundigest.com

 

[The Night Rider]

The biggest problem that I have with this article is it keeps dismissing the militia like it's not something that exists anymore.

Alaska has an Active State Militia that participated in the Battles of Attu and Dutch Harbour.
California, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia all have active state militias that are answerable only to the state and Texas for sure cannot be federalised.

 

[Certified Silly Goose]

The biggest problem that I have with this article is it keeps dismissing the militia like it's not something that exists anymore.

It's simple; if you're willing to take up arms to defend yourself, your family, your neighborhood... you ARE the militia.

 

[The Night Rider]

It's simple; if you're willing to take up arms to defend yourself, your family, your neighborhood... you ARE the militia.

I mean, No.

 

[Certified Silly Goose]

I mean, No

Richard Henry Lee would disagree. Apologies, but, "yes"...

"Militias, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves and include all men capable of bearing arms. [...] To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."