Does the 2nd amendment only protect guns? The actual text says "arms" not "firearms."?
Answers:
Yes, we have the right to bare swords.
What did you think it meant? Forearms?
The 2ND Amendment is what keeps the rest of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution in general from being tossed.
You should fear a government who fears your guns.
It is typical to arm a milita with the best arms that are affordable and available.
So whether it is sticks, assault rifles or nukes they are all arms.
When you can threaten the local, state or federal government you make the authorities nervous, which is good because then they remember who they serve.
In the context it was written in no. Private citizens and even cities owned cannons and rockets. The word "arms" refers to armaments.
Our founding fathers knew that technology would advance beyond musket and cannon so they opened up the door so that WE THE PEOPLE, could defend our self vs a tyrannical government both foreign and domestic.
Democracy is Two Wolves and a Lamb Voting on What to have for Lunch. Liberty is a Well-Armed Lamb Contesting the Vote Ben Franklin
Strongest Reason for the People to Retain Their Right to Keep and Bear Arms is as a Last Resort to Protect Themselves Against Tyranny in Government Thomas Jefferson
And the list goes on.
When the government fears the people, there is liberty; when the people fear the government, there is tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson.
the amendment states right to bear arms; when that statement was made, firearms were actually relatively new. they still carried swords into battle. so I would say that arms should apply to any weapon. but try to own a cannon or potato gun and see what kind of trouble you get into! pretty sad!
The standard as to what are 'arms' in the context of the 2nd Amendment includes the weapons that an infantryman could carry. Citizens of milita age in the 18th century were required to obtain a 'musket or firelock', and such items as a soldier in the field requires. The milita armory had control of such things as cannon and the powder and shot to service these guns. Individual soldiers could supply themselves with pistols, knifes and swords, though as a rule only officers burdened themselves swords and pistols. Since that day private ownership of weapons over 50 caliber and 'explosive' devices have been regulated by government decree. Oddly, the term 'regulated' as mentioned in the 2nd Amendment had a different meaning or at least an additional meaning in the 18th century. 'Regulated' meant 'well drilled', or as we would say, 'well trained'. What this says is that the militaman was required to own his own standard arms, and the 'milita organization' was required to train or 'regulate' him. Today, while the 'milita' as such no longer exists, in an emergency citizens could still be called to arms and would be at least encouraged to bring their own 'musket or firelock'.
Arms used in that context, means firearms (guns).
"Any arm equal to that which is used by the military." was the original meaning, up to and including cannon. Dirty politics and fearful politicians have degenerated that to mean less than what the Founding Fathers meant it to mean.~ "That the people shall always have the means to defend their rights,
their selves, their country and with armed force as necessary."
"To preserve Liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the People always possess arms and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them." - Richard Henry Lee writing in 'Federal Farmer to the Republic' (1787-1788)
"If the representatives of the People betray their constituents, there is then no recourse left but in the exertion of that original right of self defense which is paramount to all positive forms of government."- Alexander Hamilton, The Federalist (#28)
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