On Saturday 14 October 2006 11:27, Bruce Marshall wrote: > On Friday 13 October 2006 21:34, Bob Hemus wrote: > > > Read the first and 2nd amendments and then describe how "the people" > > > in the first amendment applies to an individual and "the people" in the > > > 2nd amendment applies to militias. > > > > The Supreme Court did in the late 30's. The Constitution gives 'em that > > responsibility. > > Can you point me to anything about that decision? I've seen many > decisions since that time that says you are wrong. (and it just doesn't > figure that those two words would mean something so much different between > the 1st and the 2nd amendments. And all of the constitutional scholars > seem to agree that it is an individual right.)
Never mind.... Here's something from just my first hit on googling "Supreme court 2nd amendment" http://www.thefiringline.com/Misc/library/kates.html The Supreme Court therefore views the words "the people" in the Second Amendment to have the same meaning as in the First, Fourth, Ninth, and Tenth Amendments. If "the people" really meant the right of states to maintain a militia, then we would be left with the absurd notion that only the states have the right to peaceably assemble, only the states have the right to be secure in their persons and property, etc. The Supreme Court's position is indisputable: the Second Amendment protects the individual right to bear arms. Also instructive is the Report of the Subcommittee on the Constitution of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, 97th Congress, Second Session (February 1982): The conclusion is thus inescapable that the history, concept, and wording of the second amendment to the Constitution of the United States, as well as its interpretation by every major commentator and court in the first half-century after its ratification, indicates that what is protected is an individual right of a private citizen to own and carry firearms in a peaceful manner. _______________________________________________ [email protected] Unsub/Pause/Etc : http://mail.linux-sxs.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/general
