Thus, the meaning is quite clear if taken in the phrases above. The first phrase indicates the right of the People to form a well-regulated militia, a group of individuals banded together in common defense.
The basis for a well-regulated militia being formed is its necessity to the security of a free State. 'State' does not mean a geographical or other arbitrary grouping of people but, instead, the state of the individual being free. It has nothing whatsoever to do with governing and is not subject to governing but only with the inalienable right of freedom of the individual.
In order to form a meaningful, effective militia, and to protect one's self from tyranny or other threats to God-given inalienable rights regardless of any militia or military, the People have the right to keep and bear Arms.
Finally, not one of these rights, the right to form a well-regulated militia, the right to keep firearms, the right to bear firearms, as dictated by the last phrase'shall never be infringed upon'. These are God-given, not government nor majoral granted, rights.
In other words, we, the individual citizens who make up the people of this nation, have for all time the right to keep and bear arms and the right to form militia groups in order to protect our rights, our liberty. If necessary, these rights were to be used against the federal government should it begin infringing or over-stepping its limited power.
That was the intent of our forefathers regardless of any modern, lackey-of-the-government so-called expert's opinion, regardless of what any Supreme Court decision rules, regardless of any unconstitutional laws passed to the contrary.
Understand this. The Bill of Rights was incorporated into the
Constitution as the rights of the individual and is in not way related to government, such as the military, other that to prevent government or any other persons, organizations, from
intruding on the rights of the individual.
Here are a few quotes from our forefathers followed by brief comments.. (Many thanks to
Mr. Ed Akehurst of “The Center for Citizens Rights for compiling the below.)
"…The said Constitution be never construed …to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms." Samuel Adams, during Massachusetts's Convention to Ratify the Constitution (1788).
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." Thomas Jefferson,
Proposed Virginia Constitution (1776).
"Americans need not fear the federal government because they enjoy the advantage of being armed, which you possess over the people of almost every other nation." James Madison, "The Federalist 46 (1788).
"The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in their government." --Thomas Jefferson
"I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people. To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them." George Mason, during
Virginia's Convention to Ratify the Constitution (1788).
"A militia when properly formed are in fact the people themselves and include all men capable of bearing arms …To preserve liberty it is essential that the whole body of people always possess arms . . . " Richard Henry Lee, Additional Letters From the Federal Farmer 53 (1788).
"Laws that forbid the carrying of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man." Thomas Jefferson, quoting Cesare Beccaria in On Crimes and punishment (1764).
"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property . . . Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them." Thomas Paine, Thoughts on Defensive War (1775).
"The people never give up their liberties but under some delusion." Edmund Burke (1784).
"The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword, because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops." Noah Webster, An Examination
into the Leading Principles of the Federal Constitution Proposed BV the
Late Convention (1787).
"Arms in the hands of individual citizens may be used at individual
discretion in private self-defense." John Adams, A Defense of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America (1787-1788).
"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined." Patrick Henry,
during Virginia's Convention to Ratify the Constitution (1788)
"(The Constitution preserves) the advantage of being armed which Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation...(where) the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms." --James
Madison, The Federalist Papers
"Suppose that we let a regular army, fully equal to the resources of the country, be formed; and let it be entirely at the devotion of the federal: still it would not be going to far to say that the State governments with the people at their side would be able to repel the danger...half a million citizens
with arms in their hands" --James Madison, The Federalist Papers
"False is the idea of utility that sacrifices a thousand real advantages for
one imaginary or trifling inconvenience; that would take fire from men
because it burns, and water because one may drown in it; that has no
remedy for evils except destruction. The laws that forbid the carrying of
arms are laws of such a nature. They disarm only those who are neither
inclined nor determined to commit crime." --Cesare Beccaria, quoted by
Thomas Jefferson
So, why is there a question concerning the intent of the Second Amendment, our last defense against a tyrannical government? Our forefathers ratified the second amendment based, in part,
on the ideas stated by these men. It is quite clear to them as to the meaning of the amendment being ratified and written into the Constitution.
And, Ladies and Gentlemen, based on the intent of our forefathers, the fear of and the knowledge that men [women, too, so as to avoid being sexist] in power are corruptible, I
will never give up my right to bear arms and I don’t really give a damn as to what the Supreme Court rules.
You see, not even the Supreme Court has the right to remove rights of the individual as stated in the Constitution.
Nor does the majoral rule.
Nor does the Congress of the United States.
End of Controversy - period!!