More fun w/ partial quotes..

Over on that heap known as HuffPo, the usual suspects are still trying to push the "Collective Rights" hypothesis using partial quotes from the Congressional Records. Here's a recent one:

"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." Thus this "necessary security" is not only recognized but guarded and protected." (Rep. Morris S. Miller, of New York, in debate in the House, December 8, 1814)

One would think that Rep Miller was saying that the 2A only had to do w/ the militia. That is unless one read the entire speech which runs about 24 pages in length*.

The debate itself was over a proposal for universal conscription into the general Army of which Miller was opposed. Shortly after the above quote, he asks this question:

Now I should like to know, whether the military population of the country is not the militia of the states?

He then goes on to state that a universal conscription would not only diminish the State Militias but would be "A daring violation of the rights of this people".

So once again. The people are the militia. A right inherent and recognized by the Constitution.

Context is fun.

*13 Congress, 3rd Session, Pages 774-799 in the Congressional Annals.