Gun rights for militia? No way!

David Codrea

Date published: 12/26/2005

Katherine Letellier apparently possesses knowledge that many of us interested in the Second Amendment have been seeking for some time, to no avail. If substantiated, this will have significant impact on current understanding and future court cases. She claims, "Each side can cite Colonial history and quote from the Founding Fathers."

Yet according to constitutional law scholar Stephen P. Halbrook, "In recent years it has been suggested that the Second Amendment protects the 'collective' right of states to maintain militias, while it does not protect the right of 'the people' to keep and bear arms. If anyone entertained this notion in the period during which the Constitution and Bill of Rights were debated and ratified, it remains one of the most closely guarded secrets of the 18th century, for no known writing surviving from the period between 1787 and 1791 states such a thesis."

Both Ms. Letellier and Professor Halbrook can't be right. One of them must be wrong.

What "challenging and convincing arguments" did the framers make to deny the right of individuals to keep and bear arms?

Redondo Beach, Calif.

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Date published: 12/26/2005