[Morgan_Freeman]

Quote by: lsbskins1 Held in proper working order by who, pray tell? The point is the same, the state was the entity expected to maintain the militia in "proper working order", to be in charge and manage it for it's purpose. The meaning is the same, really. The implication is the same. It was not about protecting yourself, it was about protecting the populace from invasion or uprising during that "Oh! Shit...it will take weeks to let the federal government know we are in imminent danger" time in our history. Read the amendment: 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. The amendment is saying that the government can not weaken the indiviual states (and by extention their citizens) in the power to protect themselves against imminent danger for fear of allowing a group of armed and trained (regulated) citizen soldiers in their midst. The federal government would have no need to fear armed indiviuals, even then. They could, however, fear organized state militas with cannon and trained and drilled troops. See, it is really that simple.

So what are you saying, that you oppose any federal ban on state militias?