“... By calling attention to a well-regulated militia for the security of the Nation, and the right of each citizen to keep and bear arms, our founding fathers recognized the essentially civilian nature of our economy. Although it is extremely unlikely that the fear of governmental tyranny, which gave rise to the 2nd amendment, will ever be a major danger to our Nation, the amendment still remains an important declaration of our basic military-civilian relationship, in which every citizen must be ready to participate in the defense of his country. For that reason I believe the 2nd Amendment will always be important.”

A well-regulated (armed) militia is needed more now for the return of law, justice, liberty, freedom, inalienable rights, individual sovereignty, and a constitutionally limiting representative republic than when the danger was presented by the governmental tyranny of the Founder's day. The statist theocracy infesting this land is a major danger to the land of the free and home of the brave.

The only thing slowing the Globalists down in their effort to destroy the US is the fact that Americans are armed to the teeth. If not for that America would already be just another province of the Global (communist) government, along with Canada, Australia, England, all of Europe... Go America, go 2nd Amendment.

J and Mike summed it up.

"well regulated Militia"... as in organized group subject to regulation by the state in the form of laws & rules... and no, we are not about to be over-run by the allegedly communist Canadian or Austrailian state (where do these folks get these crazy ideas... time for them to check their meds!)

Reston, I see no reference here, other than yours, about being over run by our neighbors or other western nations...that there is a "globalist movement" towards a one world government is indisputable...unless of course you suffer from that mental disorder now known as "liberalism". In which case delusion and denial are a way of life...

The 'A' from Reston, the term regulated in the 2nd Amendment is a conjugation of regulation, a military reference to arms of all types. The 'well', before regulated is an emphasis on multiple weapons and otherwise implements of war, along with related complements thereof (bullets, etc.). There is a real distinction (in nomenclature, duties, etc.) between the individual sovereign in normal day to day living life's adventures and the called upon responsibilities of military conflict. Read the 2nd Amendment, not from a prejudicial post anti-gun revisionist of history perspective, but, from the founder's perspective and intent. When in civilian mode, the nomenclature is: "the right of the people to keep and bear Arms," and while speaking in military mode: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State," and for the totality of both: "shall not be infringed." A militia, to be ultimately effective, must be organized (by what state is another dialog) BUT, that is not the reference or meaning of the 2nd Amendment.

There was never any intention or forethought that the "well regulated militia" would be for use against the government that formed and supported it. The term State in the amendment does not mean something like state vs federal. The militia is now so regulated that all able body men between the ages of 18 and 45 are part of it either organized as the National Guard or unorganized which includes everyone else. All of these troops come under the Commander In Chief President of the United States. We go through this every year or six monts and still the same people many above listed above never get it. Hm makes one wonder is there any hope at all for correct understanding.

Waffler, you are right, you have been corrected over, and over, and over again to no avail. Just one more correction for you. The government that formed and supported the well regulated militia was an expression of free self(s) united. The government you reference or allude to is a third party aloof from We The People with power to compel compliance, license, victimize those allegedly acting out victimless crimes and punish those standing in God given inalienable rights. That is exactly the State that the individual sovereign's militia is to be against.

Thanks to Mike - Norwalk, for his insightful comments. ( I don't think there's any real hope for Waffler, but thank you for trying.) I believe JFK was somewhat naive in thinking it "extremely unlikely that the fear of governmental tyranny...will ever be a major danger to our nation," since he was educated at some of the most prestigious schools here and abroad and lived his life on the world stage for the most part including going to war. Did he not read history? I dare say, he did. So, on what could he base his assumption of negligible risk? At least he was not trying to dismantle it as is the case today.

The citizen-soldier is central to the sovereign republican form of government. And in order to fulfill the duty, the citizen should be as armed and trained as any federal mercenary. The federalists ever try to get we the people to waive our responsibilities and let 'them' take care of us. The right to own and carry arms is still central to the cause of liberty -- thankfully, millions of Americans do indeed take it seriously enough to arm and train themselves. Urbanites don't like guns because they were never encouraged to own them or learn how to use them except if drafted into the military to kill people in foreign lands. The debate on whether the militia was to be independent from a national/federal military force has been explained many, many times -- just read the Federalist papers and the Constitutional debates on the subject -- everyone understood that it was the right of the people and the States to bear arms as a check against national military power -- for goodness sake, the framers were no stranger to centuries of European wars. Waffler got a crappy education.

Well said, Mike, J Carlton__Gotta agree with Carol, JFK was incredibly naive not to have foreseen our current situation. We were ALL naive not to have seen the quiet, sinister workings of our Congressional Lifers.

Not actually a JFK quote. More internet tripe.

Where is this reference: (Ref: AR 12-73 p.14)

Thank you.