The Right of the People to Form Militias Under the Constitution

The original Constitution did not provide the people with rights against an oppressive government and many of our forefathers were against ratifying the original document for that reason. It is, therefore, the Second Amendment to the Constitution (in the Bill of Rights) that sets out the rights of the people to form militia units.

Article II of the Bill of Rights states “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the rights of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Here we see our forefathers' wisdom. In order to protect the free people from oppressive government, it is the peoples’ responsibility to form a militia to protect their rights of freedom.

And what is a militia? That is a body of citizens organized for discipline like a military force but not in actual service, except in the case of an emergency. The militia is not a standing army and must not in any way be connected with the government, but rather stand in opposition to such government when that government becomes a threat to the people and is attempting to overcome the people to take away their rights and property.

The militia predates state and federal constitutions. These constitutions grant no right to form militias. They simply recognize the natural right of all people to defend and protect themselves and their property. Any attempt to take freedom from the people is, in fact, rebellion against the people. Security is the common desire of all mankind.