“I ask sir, what is the militia?”

The Second Amendment of the Bill of Rights:

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.1

The individual has a natural right to self-defense to bear arms to meet force with force. This natural right is inherent, and it transcends civil law. It has long been understood by those familiar with Natural Law of this right to bear arms for self-defense and of the duty of the militia to secure their free and independent State. It was also clear to such individuals as to who the militia was, is, and will be. George Mason clarified this when he said,

I ask sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people…To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.2

To better understand this natural right and the meaning behind the Second Amendment, one must also understand the role of the militia. The following was published in The New-Hampshire Gazette and Historical Chronicle on July 5, 1771:

As no Nation or People can be secure from their Enemies and preserve their Independency without the Military Art, it must give Pleasure to every Friend to his County, and the British Nation, to see the present Revival of Military Discipline in this and the neighboring Colonies.

The only Way to have Peace, is to be always ready for War. If the Inhabitants of this Country should always have Virture and Wisdom enough to follow the noble Example of their illustrious Ancestors in training up every Man to the use of Arms, and keeping good Stores of Ammunition, they never need fear the united Force of all their Enemies.

According to the best Computation there are about half a Million of Men fit to bear arms in these Colonies; and the Number increasing so fast that it is supposed within twenty or thirty Years, British America will be able to raise a Million of Men fit to march into the Field of Battle!—If this vast Number should be properly trained to Arms, what Nation or Nations under the Sun would dare enter the List with America, or lift a Hand against her potent Sons!

As a well disciplined Militia is of such vast Importance to the Welfare of this Country, it is the indispensable Duty, and we hope it will be the constant Endeavour of every one to encourage and promote it. Military skill being a great Accomplishment for a Gentleman, as well as the Safeguard and Glory of a Nation, it is hoped that Gentlemen of Character and Fortune will read the Way in this useful Knowledge and Practice, and the lower Clases of People will be ambitions to follow their noble Example.

In this Way a Foundation may be laid for Peace and Tranquility in America to the End of Time. To make the Militia still more respectable, there should be a Major General and a Brigadier General in each Province—And as Musick adds greatly to the Beauty and Pleasure of Military Exercise, there should be other Instruments besides Drums, such as are in the Regular Regiments.

Standing Armies are a poor Defence against a Foreign Enemy, they are oftener the Destruction, then the Defence of a Nation. And it is a certain Evidence of a bad Government where a standing Army is kept up, either to support the Laws, or for a Defence against Enemies, for a wise Government will always make such Laws as are for the public Good, and good Laws want no Armies to support them.

A good Militia is the best Security against all Enemies, and the only Way for a Nation to become formidable and rise to Eminence and Glory.

ALEXANDER.3