How to Read the 2nd Amendment and the Constitution

[BjornF16]

Under the militia act, you did not have a voluntary choice to be a member, but a requirement of members was to own particular weaponry and supplies. A right is no longer a right when it is a requirement. Under the first amendment, you have the freedom of religion, but would you consider that right violated if the government mandated that you worship and tythe at a religion not of your own choosing, particularly if you didn't want to worship anywhere. A right means having a choice to do something or not and ceases to be a right when that choice is taken away.

I'll say it again...the Militia Act required active militia members to maintain a standardized firearm, amount of lead and powder. They were free to choose to have other personal firearms or to choose not to have them.

As militia members, they already were providing their firearm, lead and powder. The Militia Act was standardizing what they were bringing to the fight.

Conscientious objectors were NOT required to maintain the standardized militia weaponry (as they were not active members of the militia).

Those who were outside the age of militia service weren't required to maintain the standardized militia weaponry.

Those who were excluded from militia service due to disability weren't required to maintain the standardized militia weaponry.

Women weren't required to maintain the standardized militia weaponry.

Another more realistic example: We have 1A rights to free speech in public forum (meaning government can't suppress our speech in the public square). However, government can compel us to speak in certain circumstances (e.g. in a court of law).