...districts they represented.79 If all else failed, the declarations recognized that "a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state."80 74 William E. Nelson, Americanization of the Common Law: The Impact of...

...documents was the right to bear arms. The Virginia Declaration of Rights, for example, went like this: "A well regulated militia, composed of the body of...trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state." Other states with similar statements were Vermont, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts,...

...Constitution, four states requested amendments to recognize that the people have a right to bear arms, and that a well regulated militia composed of the body of the...people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural and safe defense of a free state. A fifth state, New Hampshire, stated only that "Congress shall never disarm...

...Constitution on July 27, 1788: "That the people have a right to keep and bear arms; that a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty; and therefore...

...seventeen of the Virginia proposal declares That the people have a right to keep and bear arms: that a well regulated militia composed of the body of the...free state. That standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty. and therefore ought to be avoided. as far as the circumstances and protection...

...avoiding standing armies: 17th. That the people have a right to keep and bear arms; that a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained...free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and therefore ought to be avoided, as far as the circumstances and protection...

...1, this provision provides That the people have a right to keep and bear arms; that a wellregulated militia, composed of the body of the people trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty and therefore...

...trial by jury is preferable to any other and ought to be held sacred. Section 13. That a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to...

...provisions pertaining to the right to keep and bear arms enacted between 1776 and 1820: 1776, Virginia: That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of...trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free State; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided, as dangerous to...

...subordination to and governed by the civil power. Ch. I, art. 16 (enacted 1777, ch. I, art. 15). Virginia: That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of...trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed;...