stanc Wrote:You have an odd notion of what it means to "side step" an issue. I gave a direct answer to each of your requests, and did not attempt to evade answering.
To sidestep you ''dodge'' a direct answer with a negative response and discredit the question itself. Then you actually answer it LOL. example:
stanc Wrote:You seem to be a little confused. In the quoted extract from Drillboss' post, he is not addressing my opinion on the AR15.
If what you're asking about is his final comment in that quote, no, he is not wrong. The 2A does not give you the right to defend yourself.
stanc Wrote:- Yes, I was remiss in not specifying whether I was talking about organized or unorganized militias.I will except remiss.
stanc Wrote:- I was mistaken about some militias being unarmed. The wiki article on state defense forces shows that some do not currently give firearms training, from which I erroneously inferred :p they are unarmed.Agreed, you were mistaken.
stanc Wrote:- I was also wrong about the people as a whole being the unorganized militia. According to the Militia Act of 1903, the unorganized militia is composed of able-bodied, adult males aged 18-45 who are not members of organized militias. So that means the majority of the adult population (i.e., men over the age of 45, disabled men of any age, and women of any age) are not -- contrary to what has been stated in this thread -- in either the organized or unorganized militias.
District of Columbia v. Heller settled the question: do people over 45 still have the right to own arms, if that is what you were insinuating.
It corresponds to the ideas of Washington it terms of its age requirements and the exemption of certain officials. While the militia ages differ slightly, it essentially is comprised of all individuals residing in these United States who are or have declared intention to become citizens, and who are considered youthful. At the onset of middle age around age 45, the requirement of service no longer applies. As well, this includes women but only those in the National Guard.
Jefferson’s stipulations take over from here. The militia is all of the people, but not by definition organized by the state or federal government. Hence, the breakup into two defined groups – organized and unorganized.
stanc Wrote:I wouldn't exactly call three-fourths of a century ago "recent" history, but the examples prove my point: The government provided (or at least offered to provide) weapons.
I will ask my neighbor who served under Patton, how recent it still is for him. Yes, the government did try to provide arms, "but when they couldn't" the people were expected to arm themselves with their personal arms. The point of this post and the reason we need or want to own the AR-15 rifle.
stanc Wrote:P.S. Just out of curiosity, do you know what were the mentioned "obsolete" weapons?
No I don't, but I did see a story on this many years ago where the men were carrying lever action Winchesters and a variety of bolt action rifles. I wish I could find that story again.