2nd Amendment

is best argued through the prism of the American revolution which requires keeping the militia strong, organized, and broad, so as to protect ''ancient privileges' against the schemes of a corrupt government.

In this passage, Gerry argues that the best paradigm for interpreting the Second Amendment is the American Revolution. According to Gerry, that model teaches the classic Anti-Federalist lessons: all governments, including the new Congress, have the potential to behave oppressively... to that end, they raise armies and destroy militias... the people must therefore keep the militia strong, organized, and broad, so as to protect their ''ancient privileges'' against the schemes of a corrupt government.

GerryThinkers

Gerry