[lsbskins1]

Oh, the 2nd Amendment also says "well regulated" not "well maintained" and that would be a huge difference in meaning. Regulated means it is controlled. And who would be doing that controlling? Ummm, state governments. The same state governments that might need a fighting force they could call upon if say, an independent Native American tribe were to figure the white man had taken more than his fair share of the land and needed to be attacked. Or a fighting force they could call upon if Spain figured they wanted Florida and Georgia. See, way back when, you couldn't get troops mustered into your area in a few hours. It might take weeks or months. Do you really believe George Washington was afraid HIS government would stomp on the rights of Virginia or Massachusetts? It was about state regulated and controlled fighting forces that could respond locally much more efficiently that national forces. Read the amendment and it will become obvious to you, but only if you are willing to read with your eyes and not your heart.