03-20-2008, 07:29 AM
The wording is curious and also done purposely. If you listened to Obama's speech the other day, he mentioned how the issue of slavery was debated at the time of the Constitution. Though it wasn't specifically outlawed, there was language about the equality of all people, which later set the stage for outlawing slavery.
A similar debate was going on at the time with gun rights, and the text does not read that "For the purposed of a militia the people have the right to bear arms. And its specifically not worded that way.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
"the right of the people to keep and bear Arms" is separated. The wording was enough to get it accepted as part of the Bill of Rights, but I doubt anyone at the time thought the issue was settled.
A similar debate was going on at the time with gun rights, and the text does not read that "For the purposed of a militia the people have the right to bear arms. And its specifically not worded that way.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
"the right of the people to keep and bear Arms" is separated. The wording was enough to get it accepted as part of the Bill of Rights, but I doubt anyone at the time thought the issue was settled.