The Founders and firearms
Stephen P. Halbrook at The Washington Time - a pretty good analysis of the meaning of the words of the Second Amendment. Were the Supremes to listen to Noah Webster's definitions, they would have no choice but to strike down any so-called "law" that didn't allow any man, woman, or responsible child to obtain, own, and carry, openly or concealed, any weapon -- rifle, shotgun, handgun, machinegun, anything -- any time, any place, without asking anyone's permission. [scopeny]
The Supreme Court questioned whether the D.C. statue "violate* the Second Amendment rights of individuals who are not affiliated with any state-regulated militia, but who wish to keep handguns and other firearms for private use in their homes."
For the answer, turn to Noah Webster. Known as the "Father of American Scholarship and Education," Webster believed that popular sovereignty in government must be accompanied by popular usage in language. In "A Compendious Dictionary of the English Language," published in 1806, and "An American Dictionary of the English Language," published in 1828 and adopted by Congress as the American standard, Webster defined all the words in the Second Amendment.
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