>>>>>>>The founders never intended for us to keep and bear arms at all times. The Second Amendment doesn't say that. It was explicitly stated that the intent was a citizen militia as a means of defending us against attacking forces.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Citizens were not allowed to keep firearms or carry them around.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Arms were kept in munitions facilities to be distributed in times of crisis. When a standing army was established in 1850 it became a more or less dead issue until the NRA came along. It was never the idea that we should always be ready to plug holes in whoever we found threatening or all go around packing.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I don't give a damn about well regulated militias and also think any attempt to regulate private possession of firearms is doomed to failure in a society that can't even seem to to do anything about those who already illegally possess firearms and use them for extremely illegal purposes, so I don't care to debate gun regulation. History, however, matters.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The quote above is just so historically wrong I can't help but ask where in God's name did you get this?
>>>>>
>>>>>I already quoted you the amendment itself. If you mean the part about the evolution of the NRA into a militant organization around 1980, I can dig it up.
>>>>>
>>>>>UPDATE: Here you go -- http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/04/23/120423fa_fact_lepore
>>>>>
>>>>>Post post script: I hope this will be an enlightened and respectful debate.
>>>>
>>>>I mean the part about "citizens were not allowed to keep firearms or carry them around. Arms were kept in munitions facilities to be distributed in times of crisis. " I will read the new yorker article now.
>>>
>>>It does say that in the article. I can't vouch for the accuracy.
>>
>>I didn't see it, but I'm sure the New Yorker wouldn't hesitate to spew fiction at any time.
>
>They sometimes do lean left but they are known for their fact checking department. I read the whole (long) article and think she did a good job.

Aside from facts, I guess it was good writing. Facts are overrated when trying to make an argument.