The Constitution and Interpretation

I feel that adapting to modernity while reading The Constitution is important for everyone.  The 2nd Amendment was not originally about individuals, but I can honor that it can be considered that today.  But we also need to realize that these guys were talking about muskets, not hand guns, grenades, uzies, etc.  Owning guns for individual protection is one thing, but stockpiling is dangerous for the security of the state and other individuals.  Modernity is what really makes the Amendment seem the most ambiguous, because so much has changed. 

I still wonder how many people realize that the 2nd Amendment has the words "well-regulated" in it.  These words can never successfully be explained away.  Furthermore, few people understand that The Constitution, all the writings around The Constitution, and The Constitutional Convention were mostly about State vs. Federal rights.  Reading the original authors words in The Federalist and The Anti-Federalist Papers is extremely eye opening when it comes to the concept that Government equals Liberty.  People today have such a deep seeded fear of government that is entirely unconstitutional in itself.  I understand all the emotions for why people fear the US government, but just laws do exist: laws that encourage a healthy republic based on democratic principles, and laws that deal with public safety and the general welfare.  The authors of the AFPs wrote that tyranny can never come in the form of public safety.  Public safety is the most benevolent thing your government can do for you, so regulation of gun laws may be more liberating than people realize.  Something to think about.  Especially when we compare ourselves to other safer countries who have strong regulations and high gun ownership.  With that in mind, our 2nd Amendment can still be relevant, although ambiguous, because it seems to match well with countries who have strict gun laws that either have militias in the traditional sense or do not.

It is very obvious to me that the 2nd Amendment is not really about a healthy debate any longer, but mostly about corporate gains, the power of the NRA, and manufactured consent.  Propaganda is a powerful and oppressive tool, and it's power today is unfortunate for all of us.