Second Amendment: The Right to Bear Arms
Do the Second Amendment and/or the Ninth Amendment acknowledge an unconditional right to keep and bear arms? The answer is both yes and no.
The controversy of the Second Amendment exists because, erroneously, some have insisted that the right to keep and bear arms is a state (as in Ohio, Texas, Florida) right and not an individual right. However, it is clear that the first clause, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State," means a free America.
The word "state" means nation/country, such as "the state of Israel" or "the Arab states" or "Secretary of State." In other words, the nation can best form a well-regulated militia (army/navy) if its militia (originally, men between the ages of 18 and 45) is free to keep and bear arms.
In addition, upon examining the Ninth Amendment (the enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people), it is obvious the framers intended to recognize certain natural rights such as the right to life.
United States
United States
English: The Bill of Rights, the first ten amendme...Of course, if one has this right but is denied the means (use of arms) to defend and protect this life, then this right has been disparaged.
At the time of the Constitution's inception the framers, all "men" in a "man's world," clearly gave little thought to anyone other than the man as the defender of family, property or country.
In 18th Century England, only the aristocratic (the ruling class) were empowered to defend honor and country. This concept of all men being full "citizens" and having the right and obligation to serve and protect was unique to America.
A citizen, circa 1785, was considered to be any white American male over the age of...
Second Amendment
It is difficult to take seriously an essay on a controversial topic that does not even acknowledge that there are two sides to the story. That is the problem here. One source is cited and it is that source's view that is put forth without any rigorous thought about the accuracy of the source or the competing ideas on the topic. Such an important topic deserves better. HINT--when discussing amendments to the Constitution, do not assume everyone knows what they say. Put in the applicable text.
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