The Volokh Conspiracy points to a fairly even-handed New York Times discussion of commas in the Second Amendment.
In the comments, though, I found this:
“The question that criticizers like yourself never answer is what role the Militia Clause actually plays.”
How about this: the people’s right to keep and bear arms includes their right to join a (loosely) organized militia. Militia service would not be a prerequisite for owning a firearm. (Disabled folk especially must be allowed to arm themselves for self-defense.)
Enrollees should, I think, be issued at least a semiauto version of the current military issue weapon, if they do not already own one.
The vision that I have is high schools offering a voluntary Militia class, along the same lines as Drivers’ Education. This would include:
- A review of BOR law.
- Instruction on how to comport yourself during a police stop. (”Keep your mouth shut and don’t consent to any search.”)
- Instruction on how to comport yourself as a juror or a witness.
- Expanded Citizens’ Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, including firefighting, search and rescue, and first aid through CPR. Extra credit for obtaining a ham license.
- And the capstone: Firearms training with rifle and pistol, including self defense law, practical shooting exercises, and paintball battles.
All to be taught, per Heinlein, by combat vets.
Annual inspection and training musters, at which you are expected to bring your personal firearm and emergency response kit.
Of course, this earns you a spot on the emergency response phone tree.
And see Volokh’s own answer to this question, at length, here.
[update]Comments and Trackbacks disabled on this, my most popular post, due to evil shit eating spammers, who in my mind are simply thieves. Email me if you have something on point to say.
[update2]Comments re-enabled after linking in Slashdot. Add suggestion concerning issue weapons.