Writing The Second Amendment
When writing the Second Amendment, the Founding Fathers analyzed several different historical documents, and they applied some ideas from the English Bill of Rights to add liberty and enforce individual rights in the still devoloping nation. One specific passage that clearly has a connection towards the English Bill of Rights is the Second Amendment. The English Bill of Rights states that the "subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defense suitable to their conditions, and as allowed by law". This was the first major idea that citizens of a large community to have the right to bear arms. Ultimately, the Founding Fathers agreed with this idea from the English Bill of Rights.
Before the 2nd Amendment was written, Congress had the power to create a national army, but people were afraid that there might not be order in the army during times of peace, and that a national standing army can pose a threat to the citizens of the United States. The idea of maintaining a national standing army was very sensitive, as it reminded Americans of the recently fought war, and made them no better than Great Britain; a tyranny.
During the proposed ratification of the Constitution, both the Anti Federalists (self-rule preserved by local government), and the Federalists (string federal government) believed that the right to bear arms and liberty were linked together. For example, one anti federalist named Richard Henry Lee was afraid that the federal army might be too strong, and "that in this country either neglected laws, or a military execution of them, must lead to revolution, and to the destruction of freedom" (Federal Farmer, supra note 133, at 13 ) So in his point of view, he stressed that a militia must be made to defend the citizens in case the federal army turns against its people. Another Anti-Federalist who agreed with the right to bear arms was a man named George Mason, who believed that "to disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them" (George Mason). Not only did George Mason believed that restring the people's right to bear arms is the same way as enslaving them, he also thought that a divine providence gave the people the right to bear arms. In short, the main argument of the Anti-Federalists was the fear that the national army would turn on its citizens and become all-powerful like their predecessor. They also feared that their rights and liberties would be swallowed up by the higher social classes, resulting in a national crisis. The two parties agreed to ratify the Constitution when Thomas Jefferson proposed the addition of a Bill of Rights to ensure that the rights of an individual would be protected and enforced. To further note, since the Anti-Federalists argued for a Bill of Rights to be included into the Constitution, it proved their compassion for equality and created a sense of nationalist pride.
The Federalist agreed with Anti Federalists concerning about the Second Amendment. However, in response to the criticism of the Anti-Federalist on federal standing armies, Noah Webster replied that the " Supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed and constitute a force superior to any bands of regular troops that can be, on any pretense, raised in the Untied States" (Noah Webster, An Examination Into The Leading Principles Of The Federal Constitution Proposed By The Late Convention Held At Philadelphia). Basically, Noah Webster defended that militia created in the United States would be far more superior than the federal standing army. So, the government cannot force the citizens to obey any laws or actions wrongfully opposed onto them. James Madison also believed that a prevention of government abuse is to have a militia made by the people. He said in defense to the criticism of the Anti-Federalist on federal standing armies, "To these [the standing army] would be opposed a militia amounting to near half a million of citizens with arms in their hands, officered by men chosen from amongst themselves, fighting for their common liberties", and that the "militia officers are appointed, forms a barrier against the enterprises of ambition, more insurmountable than any which a simple government of any form can admit of" (The Federalist No. 46, at 310, 311 James Madison). This proposed militia would mainly consist of able-bodied citizens (white male 18+) with only a few trained soldiers. As resources were scarce for a developing nation that just emerged from a war, the citizens were expected to come to the defense of their nation with firearms supplied by themselves. This is where the Second Amendment came into play. Basically, the Federalist all agreed that the Second Amendment was necessary to deter any governmental abuse on the people, and that the liberties would be protected by the militia made by and for the people. Despite agreeing with the Federalist, the Anti-Federalist did not claim that a militia would pose and stand a threat to the national standing army created by the Constitution. They argued that the government would select the militia force, and that Congress can confine a small number of select militia to be loyal to the federal government.
In the end, the Bill of Rights was ratified despite the small arguments created by the Anti-Federalist and the Federalists. However, they all agreed that a militia would be able to check on the government's standing army, including preserving freedom and resisting tyranny while preserving the republic. In addition, the government cannot have the power to create a select militia because that would be just another tool for the government to use to oppress the citizens of the United States. All in all, the Second Amendment was created nonetheless to protect the citizens of the Untied States.