Supreme Court Copyright Ruling May Have Important Implications for 2nd Amendment Gun Rights

I, too, have always interpreted the wording in that same context.

The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Why not infringe on the people's right to keep and bear arms? Because a "well regulated" militia is necessary to ensure the security of the free state.

The free state must have a militia to defend itself but, at the same time, the people must be able to regulate the power of the militia.

Checks and balances here, checks and balances there, checks and balances everywhere...

Checks and balances apply ONLY to government.
Not to indeviduals.

The phrase "The people" refer to indevidual citizens NOT the Government. The government is a seperate entity

"Well Regulated" back then meant "Well trained".

For a better understanding of the founding fathers meaning substitute the word "trained" instead of regulated and you will understand

Checks and balances apply ONLY to government. Not to indeviduals.

Re-read what I wrote. In no way did I insinuate that balance is needed to keep the people in check. The people (individuals) have a right to keep and bear arms, and this ensures the security of the free state because the government is not allowed a monopoly on arms. The balance keeps the government in check.

The phrase "The people" refer to indevidual citizens NOT the Government.

Agreed.

"Well Regulated" back then meant "Well trained".

If you say so. Perhaps you can cite a much older dictionary that I've not yet seen?

For a better understanding of the founding fathers meaning substitute the word "trained" instead of regulated and you will understand

Been there, done that, and I still don't see where your version of a civilian militia differs from mine. Unless, of course, you are trying to mandate that the people are trained per some defined standard -- for the purpose of obtaining certification, maybe? If so, you have a monumental task ahead to convince me that the authors had such a vision in mind while listing the Bill of Rights. Keep in mind that it is not called the Bill of Requirements.

"The project of disciplining all the militia of the United States is as futile as it would be injurious, if it were capable of being carried into execution. A tolerable expertness in military movements is a business that requires time and practice. It is not a day, or even a week, that will suffice for the attainment of it. To oblige the great body of the yeomanry, and of the other classes of the citizens, to be under arms for the purpose of going through military exercises and evolutions, as often as might be necessary to acquire the degree of perfection which would entitle them to the character of a well-regulated militia, would be a real grievance to the people, and a serious public inconvenience and loss."

An excerpt from The Federalist No. 29

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