Quote:
Originally Posted by dksuddeth
if it wasn't grammatically incorrect when it was written and it was understood by all at that time, why would it need to be re-interpreted by a court 200+ years later? Did it's meaning really change? or just a definition of a word?
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It was grammatically incorrect when it was written, actually.
The intent of the Second Amendment, originally, was to legally protect the right of insurrection against oppression. It had absolutely nothing to do with self-defense. The "well regulated militia" referred to the militia present at the time of the signing, which consisted of able-bodied males between 18 and 45. The intent was that a militia would be a counterbalance for a federal military. Nowhere does it say that a well regulated militia refers to the entire population.
But times change, which is why the framers wanted the courts to be able to interpret laws and the legislature to be able to pass amendments. Sedentary laws cannot endure
Of course all of this is moot. The SCOTUS gave a ruling a few months back and it's surprisingly clear. You can have a gun, but there will be reasonable limits.