...the state and society as a whole. For example, Virginia's constitution, adopted in 1776, said "that a well regulated militia, composed of the body of...trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state." Likewise, Tennessee's constitution, adopted in 1796, guaranteed that "freemen...

...full meaning made clear: 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...

...endorsements of the militia. For example, the Virginia Declaration of Rights declared "that a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people trained...proper, natural and safe defence of a free state." And John Hancock stated in 1774 that "from a well regulated militia we have nothing to fear; their...

...1775 "Plan for Embodying the People"; it condemned "standing armies, in time of peace," in favor of "a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms." The committee version, in language Mason may have drafted, outlawed the suspension of legislation without...

...in Virginia to ratify the Constitution: "that the people have the right to keep and bear arms; that a well regulated militia composed of the body of the...proper, natural and safe defence of a free state." The body of the people: The militia consisted of every able-bodied mature white male. It was not an...

...and can never be restrained but by despotic governments. SEC. 13. That a well-regulated militia, or @ defense of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to...

...presented by Josiah Parker in the House of Representatives on May 15, 1798, was one that stated "That, as 'a well regulated militia, composed of the body of...proper, natural, and safe defence of a free State,' we view every measure which leads to the establishment of standing armies, and expensive navies, as...

...liberty, and can never be restrained but by despotic governments. 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...