In the words of James Madison:

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

"...Let a regular army, fully equal to the resources of the country, be formed; and let it be entirely at the devotion of the federal government; still it would not be going too far to say, that the State governments, with the people on their side, would be able to repel the danger. The highest number to which, according to the best computation, a standing army can be carried in any country, does not exceed one hundredth part of the whole number of souls; or one twenty-fifth part of the number able to bear arms. This proportion would not yield, in the United States, an army of more than twenty-five or thirty thousand men. To these would be opposed a militia amounting to near half a million of citizens with arms in their hands, officered by men chosen from among themselves, fighting for their common liberties, and united and conducted by governments possessing their affections and confidence..." - James Madison

Of the population (3 million) at that time, about 600,000 were slaves and not allowed to own mostly anything let alone a gun. Half of those remaining were women and also not considered part of the militia. The remaining 1.2 million folks would, I suppose yield about a third who were old enough but not to old to own and use a firearm.

The conclusion here is that the intention was to have all those able to use a gun should own one.

To the question of to whom should the right to keep and bear arms apply to everyone able or only to the armed forces and police; from a reading of the above, who did Madison think should own firearms?

12 votes, 0 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Everyone
	11 (92%)
	Only the armed forces and police (Madison was full of crap)
	1 (8%)
	0 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
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[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. "...half a million of citizens with arms in their hands..."

and by arms I don't think he meant elbows.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

2. So I guess...

...it would be redundant to say that these are bare, bear... arms?




I'm here all week!

[trouble.smith]

3. of course he meant for everyone who was able to be armed as did the rest of our forefathers.

that, of course, means nothing to some people who will undoubtedly be along shortly to shame themselves before their ancestors.

[Eleanors38]

4. The RKBA is a popular, not an elite, right. Abundantly clear.nt