[geeks] FW: [rescue] UPS Recommendation

[Mike Meredith]

On Wed, 16 Jul 2003 08:47:36 -0500
Brian Dunbar <Brian.Dunbar at plexus.com> wrote:
> Which still doesn't guarantee that the cops will show up in time.  If
> they can't guarantee light speed response the instant I need them to
> protect me, then I have a moral responsibility to have the means to
> protect myself and/or my family.  And my neighbors if they need.  Hey,
> wait, that sounds like that-there militia thingee mentioned in the
> Constitution ...

The 2nd amendment ? You know that looks like a spectacularly dumb one
... because it's so vague and unspecific. "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."

My understanding of that is that the people are allowed to keep and bear
arms *specifically* so they can be raised as a militia to defend the
state (which state? A US state ? Or the Federal state?). There's no
indication that arms are permitted for self-protection, or for
individual protection against the state.

Of course there's nothing to say that arms can't be used for
self-protection either, but the whole statement implies that it is
specifically for military purposes. Banding together with your
neighbours for self-protection doesn't make you a member of a militia
either.