Madison: Federalist No. 46, on the makeup of the militia:

[NYC_SKP]

(crossposted in Gun Control & RKBA)

This post is in response to a recent post in a protected group and serves to provide more detail and context, and is open to all members for discussion:

The inspiring post makes reference to James Madison Federalist No. 46 and is titled: Why Second Amendment absolutists are crazy wrong in which the OP notes:

"From this it seems pretty clear that the militia envisioned by Hamilton was a truly well regulated, full time, finely trained group of soldiers."



For context, here is the full text of essay (in italics), preceded by an introductory clause provide at wikipedia:

...In an effort to further dissuade fears over a national military force, Madison indicates that, at any point, the maximum force that can be brought to bear by the government to enforce its mandates is but a small fraction of the might of an armed citizenry:

Let a regular army, fully equal to the resources of the country, be formed; and let it be entirely at the devotion of the federal government; still it would not be going too far to say, that the State governments, with the people on their side, would be able to repel the danger.

The highest number to which, according to the best computation, a standing army can be carried in any country, does not exceed one hundredth part of the whole number of souls; or one twenty-fifth part of the number able to bear arms.

This proportion would not yield, in the United States, an army of more than twenty-five or thirty thousand men.

To these would be opposed a militia amounting to near half a million of citizens with arms in their hands, officered by men chosen from among themselves, fighting for their common liberties, and united and conducted by governments possessing their affections and confidence.

It may well be doubted, whether a militia thus circumstanced could ever be conquered by such a proportion of regular troops. Those who are best acquainted with the last successful resistance of this country against the British arms, will be most inclined to deny the possibility of it.

Besides the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation, the existence of subordinate governments, to which the people are attached, and by which 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.

Notwithstanding the military establishments in the several kingdoms of Europe, which are carried as far as the public resources will bear, the governments are afraid to trust the people with arms. And it is not certain, that with this aid alone they would not be able to shake off their yokes.

But were the people to possess the additional advantages of local governments chosen by themselves, who could collect the national will and direct the national force, and of officers appointed out of the militia, by these governments, and attached both to them and to the militia, it may be affirmed with the greatest assurance, that the throne of every tyranny in Europe would be speedily overturned in spite of the legions which surround it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federalist_No._46

It seems very unlikely that Madison refers here to half a million "truly well regulated, full time, finely trained group of soldiers" as suggested by the OP.

No, I submit that he refers to regular folks who are otherwise engaged full-time in ordinary careers and are enjoying their Second Amendment rights.

It's a great essay, filled with great lines that I would like to have highlighted, but then almost all of it would have been highlighted.

>>>> Self defense is a civil right, even in California, according to it's state constitution. It's right there in the first clause of the first article.

CALIFORNIA CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 1 DECLARATION OF RIGHTS


SECTION 1. All people are by nature free and independent and have
inalienable rights. Among these are enjoying and defending life and
liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and pursuing
and obtaining safety, happiness, and privacy.

http://leginfo.ca.gov/.const/.article_1