Great Seal > Constitution > Second Amendment

"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."

What the Founders Meant by "Well Regulated"

The precedent for the language used in the Second Amendment is the first Continental Congress's resolution of March 23, 1775 that was introduced by Patrick Henry:

"A well regulated militia, composed of gentlemen and yeomen, is the natural strength and only security of a free government; that such a militia in this colony would forever render it unnecessary for the mother country to keep among us, for the purpose of our defence, any standing army of mercenary forces, always subversive of the quiet, and dangerous to the liberties, of the people, and would obviate the pretext of taxing us for their support."

General Washington in command of his troops

    General Washington said:
  • "The distinction between a well regulated Army, and a Mob, is the good order and discipline of the first, and the licentious and disorderly behaviour of the latter." (August 25, 1776)

  • "The irregular and disjointed State of the Militia of this Province, makes it necessary for me to inform you... your first object should be a well regulated Militia Law." (January 24, 1777)

  • "For want of proper Laws in the Southern Governments, their Militia were never well regulated; and since the late Troubles, in which the Old Governments have been unhinged, and new ones not yet firmly established, the people have adopted a mode of thinking and Acting for themselves." (March 6, 1777)

  • "The Citizens of America (with a few legal and official exceptions) from 18 to 50 Years of Age should be borne on the Militia Rolls, provided with uniform Arms, and so far accustomed to the use of them, that the Total strength of the Country might be called forth at a Short Notice on any very interesting Emergency, for these purposes they ought to be duly organized into Commands of the same formation... By keeping up in Peace 'a well regulated, and disciplined Militia,' we shall take the fairest and best method to preserve, for a long time to come, the happiness, dignity and Independence of our Country." (May 1, 1783)
    President Washington said:
  • "The devising and establishing of a well regulated militia, would be a genuine source of legislative honor... carrying to its full energy the power of organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia; and thus providing, in the language of the constitution, for calling them forth to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions." (Address to Congress, November 19, 1794)

George Washington said a "well regulated Militia" means an organized military unit provided with uniform arms by the legislature. It does not mean individual citizens with guns acting for themselves.

NOTE: "to bear arms" not only meant to carry firearms,
it also meant to participate in a militia.

Thus "well regulated" means ordered and disciplined – not "disorderly, irregular, or disjointed": terms Washington used that now describe the weakly regulated situation in America that has led to the proliferation of firearms.

The Second Amendment is essentially about Security.

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