At the time of the American Revolutionary War, militias were groups of able-bodied men who protected their towns, colonies, and eventually states. When the Constitution was drafted, the militia was a state-based institution. States were responsible for organizing this.
Well-regulated in the 18th century tended to be something like well-organized, well-armed, well-disciplined. It didn't mean 'regulation' in the sense that we use it now, in that it's not about the regulatory state. There's been nuance there. It means the militia was in an effective shape to fight.
In other words, it didn't mean the state was controlling the militia in a certain way, but rather that the militia was prepared to do its duty.
The framers definitely believed in natural rights -- that they are endowed by a creator. They believed we are born into a state of nature before we form governments, and that we are endowed with certain fundamental rights.
The entire purpose of the 2nd Amendment is to directly prohibit government from infringing in an way with our preexisting right to bear arms. It also put government on notice that we have the right to defend ourselves with weapons from any government tyranny. We our the power behind government, no the other way around.
At the time of the American Revolutionary War, militias were groups of able-bodied men who protected their towns, colonies, and eventually states. When the Constitution was drafted, the militia was a state-based institution. States were responsible for organizing this.
Well-regulated in the 18th century tended to be something like well-organized, well-armed, well-disciplined. It didn't mean 'regulation' in the sense that we use it now, in that it's not about the regulatory state. There's been nuance there. It means the militia was in an effective shape to fight.
In other words, it didn't mean the state was controlling the militia in a certain way, but rather that the militia was prepared to do its duty.
The framers definitely believed in natural rights -- that they are endowed by a creator. They believed we are born into a state of nature before we form governments, and that we are endowed with certain fundamental rights.
The entire purpose of the 2nd Amendment is to directly prohibit government from infringing in an way with our preexisting right to bear arms. It also put government on notice that we have the right to defend ourselves with weapons from any government tyranny. We our the power behind government, no the other way around.