The Second Amendment

Not long ago a friend mentioned that he knew I didn't like the Second Amendment. I am not sure why he said it, I assume his assumption was that being a progressive and asking for greater justice that I'd be opposed to the Second Amendment.

I have always been around firearms. As a child hunting, as an adult hunting, in the military. I didn't use my weapon in national defense but only the practice. I haven't spent that much time in target practice but mostly in preparation to the hunting season where I take out the guns, clean them off and prepare for a walk in the woods to hunt for legal game species.

I have studied U.S. History to include the Federalist papers and the Anti-federalist response. These papers mention the freedom to bear arms little, but it is clear of their intent. I have studied the Constitution including the Bill of Rights in which the Second Amendment takes on special interpretation. There has been many laws regulating personal firearms and all but one have been upheld by the courts. The one I am thinking of was relatively recent when the Supreme Court ruled against D.C.'s handgun ban. I frequently mention the 1934 National Firearms Act necessitated by gangland violence with the use of the Thompson Machine Gun and ask why it now does not include the AR-15.

"A well regulated".... Even the founders of our constitution knew the necessity of regulations and our law enforcement, military and personal ownership of weapons are regulated, if not well then let us consider the greater need.   "Militia"... The militias of the 1790s and the militias of today are vastly different. There was little protection at the time by law enforcement or the military so the citizen took it upon himself to be the security. I wish not to have the radical militias of today to protect me but if in the 1790s, I'd be a member. I argue that our police, sheriffs, state troopers, national guard and military are our militia and they are regulated. "Being necessary to the security of a free state"... I do believe we have a free state although we need improvement, my concern is not with our regulated lawful security but with my fear of my neighbor's belief in his right to protect. "the right of the people to keep and bear arms"...  As I said I have always been around and have owned firearms but I do not object to the laws restricting firearms and know well that not only are more necessary but other factors as eduction, mental health, our questionable recreation in video games and the like need to be addressed. "Shall not be infringed"... I do not wish to have a Thompson machine gun, grenade luncher, AR-15 or the like so that infringement is not a concern but the lack there of should be a concern to society.

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. 

We need to know the entirety of the Second Amendment not just the last half! We are killing ourselves and the citizens and political leaders ask to continue the killing for who knows why?