In world geography today my teacher brought up a interesting question, "why do we have the right to bear arms?". A girl said to defend ourselves from foreign powers. He then said "No, but thank you for suggesting this. It is in fact, to protect ourselves in the situation that our government were to collapse upon itself and use the military against the people". I don't know if this is right or not but it was very interesting to me... What do you think the purpose is?
Why the right to bear arms?
LeatherNeckRVA
Active member
it was without a doubt orginally designed to defend us against foreign powers, specifically the king of england(it specifies england) But at the time the American military had a large militia element. These days guns are used mainly for recreation.
Mark Conley
Active member
im affraid id have to agree with the first post...
one of the original sticking points was that the states did not have the authority to maintain militas. Sure they could be used to augment the national forces..but they were also there to provide a check on the national government as well. A young government with no outside checks and balances against a coup was a distressing idea.
so in the bill of rights:
Amendment II 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.
it wasnt there for fun folks..and i believe the government was very much aware of the implications of standing militas in the states.
one of the original sticking points was that the states did not have the authority to maintain militas. Sure they could be used to augment the national forces..but they were also there to provide a check on the national government as well. A young government with no outside checks and balances against a coup was a distressing idea.
so in the bill of rights:
Amendment II 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.
it wasnt there for fun folks..and i believe the government was very much aware of the implications of standing militas in the states.
ravensword227
Active member
Safeguard against tyranny, homeland defense, personal defense, recreational shooting, and hunting are all reasons why we have the right to bear arms. Mainly, the purpose of writing the 2nd Amendment was to ensure that the right to bear arms would never be disputed. After all, the militiamen fighting against the British sure as hell didn’t need to be told that they had the right to bear arms :lol: .
The notion that the right to bear arms is for homeland defense, is not wrong at all. Even in the modern age, an armed citizenry; especially of the United States, is something that intimidates would-be invaders.
The notion that the right to bear arms is for homeland defense, is not wrong at all. Even in the modern age, an armed citizenry; especially of the United States, is something that intimidates would-be invaders.
A Can of Man
Je suis aware
It was for another check on the Government, not against a foreign power.