A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

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State Militias

Personal Protection

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Is it about protecting regulated state militias or personal protection?

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Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@DailyFlash, if the right to bear arms is dependent on being part of the militia, then simply eliminate the militia and no one, even cops, can have guns because the constitution plainly says that only members of the militia can bear arms. And since police forces are not the militia, they can't have guns. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

Next problem.

room101 · 51-55, M

@Diotrephes As it is in the UK.

Only very specialised units of the police are armed.

Graylight · 51-55, F

@Diotrephes Right, and within 3 years we have our choice of 831 different militia organizations to join.

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@Graylight Does your State have a militia?

Graylight · 51-55, F

@Diotrephes A "well regulated" one? No.

[quote]Federal and state laws generally use the term “militia” to refer to all able-bodied residents between certain ages who may be called forth [i]by the government[/i] to defend the United States or an individual state. [b]See 10 U.S.C. § 246. [/b]

Groups of armed individuals that engage in paramilitary activity or law enforcement functions without being called forth by a governor or the federal government and without reporting to any government authority are acting as [i]unauthorized private militias.
[/i]
All 50 states prohibit private, unauthorized militias and military units from engaging in activities reserved for the state militia, including law enforcement activities. Some, including Florida, also prohibit paramilitary activity during or in furtherance of a civil disorder.

[i]Institute of Constitutional Advocacy and Protection, Georgetown Law School[/i][/quote]

Militias are antiquated. No right is guaranteed and when you advocate just as strongly for the 7th or 3rd Amendments, I'll be sure to start believing you're serious.

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@Graylight The only Amendment everyone has observed since 1789 has been the 3rd Amendment.

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@Graylight Which State do you live in?

Graylight · 51-55, F

@Diotrephes FL, laxest state in the union. But the code is federal.

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@Graylight Per the Florida constitution =

"Text of Section 2:
Militia

(a) The militia shall be composed of all ablebodied inhabitants of the state who are or have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States; and no person because of religious creed or opinion shall be exempted from military duty except upon conditions provided by law.

(b) The organizing, equipping, housing, maintaining, and disciplining of the militia, and the safekeeping of public arms may be provided for by law.

(c) The governor shall appoint all commissioned officers of the militia, including an adjutant general who shall be chief of staff. The appointment of all general officers shall be subject to confirmation by the senate.

(d) The qualifications of personnel and officers of the federally recognized national guard, including the adjutant general, and the grounds and proceedings for their discipline and removal shall conform to the appropriate United States army or air force regulations and usages."
https://ballotpedia.org/Article_X,_Florida_Constitution

So, if the contention is that a person has to be a member of the militia to have a gun that would exclude the vast majority of of people, including cops and everyone else who is not a militia member for whatever reason. Remember, the federal constitution does not mention such things as police forces so technically they are unconstitutional.