digger: Gee, if it was to be a collective right, why all those 'themselves and..' Don't trip over yourself there.
You obviously have a very limited understanding of this, so I'll kindly advise you to avoid snarky comments or I will respond in kind.
You wrote this, to which I replied that state constitutions circa 1787 contained militia centric provisions, not just individual provisions, as you implied: digger wrote: Why would Madison (among others) write protection of an individual right into their respective state constitutions if it was to be some 'collective' right?
... and by the way re you above, where did madison write an individual provision in virginia's rkba, less yet 2ndA?
digger: Gee, if it was to be a collective right, why all those 'themselves and..'
Kentucky 1792: "That the right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned."
...1850, Kentucky: The right to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the State, subject to the power of the General Assembly to enact laws to prevent persons from carrying concealed weapons.
If it were an 'individual right', digger, why just the mention of 'common defense' in Tennesse?:
Tennessee: 1796: "That the freemen of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defence." 1834: "That the free white men of this State have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defence."
Maine: 1819: "Every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms for the common defence; and this right shall never be questioned."
Montana 1889: The right of any person to keep or bear arms in defense of his own home, person, and property.. shall not be called in question, but nothing herein contained shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons.
New Mexico: 1912: "The people have the right to bear arms for their security and defense, but nothing herein shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons.
North Carolina: : Same as 1868, but added "Nothing herein contained shall justify the practice of carrying concealed weapons, or prevent the Legislature from enacting penal statutes against said practice.
Oklahoma: The right of a citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person, or property... shall never be prohibited; but nothing herein contained shall prevent the Legislature from regulating the carrying of weapons. Art. II, § 26 (enacted 1907).
Texas: Every citizen shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defense of himself or the State; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime. (enacted 1876)
Missouri: 1875: "That the right of no citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, pers.... ; but nothing herein contained is intended to justify the practice of wearing concealed weapons."
Mississippi 1890: : The right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person, or prope... but the legislature may regulate or forbid carrying concealed weapons.
Louisiana, 1974: The right of each citizen to keep and bear arms shall not be abridged, but this provision shall not prevent the passage of laws to prohibit the carrying of weapons concealed on the person. (enacted 1974).
1879: "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 abridged. This shall not prevent the passage of laws to punish those who carry weapons concealed." http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2977551/posts
= new reply since forum marked as read