Can anyone please help me track down the intellectual history of the "defending life and liberty" part of this sentiment?
I wish I could but, if you don't mind, I have a parallel phrase that I often wonder about:
With respect to the RKBA, and the "militia", exactly what is the intellectual history of "well regulated".
Most modern thought processes go to control, particularly government control, which I imagine none of us buy into. So whom or what is being well regulated?
Personally, I believe he phrase is Masonic in origin because all Masonic lodges are supposed to be "well regulated" and so many of the Framers were Masons. I take it to mean regular in disposition, self control, temperate in most things (all?), and properly organized into regular society as a regular member thereof.
But I cannot prove it....
Sandra Froman, NRA President, in her monthly column in the American Rifleman's August 2006 edition, states that someone has pointed out that the passengers on United 93 acted as an unorganized militia when they banded together to thwart the crashing of the plane into Washington. Perhaps, but how is that a "well regulated militia"? If being regulated means acting well together in concert then maybe so but, otherwise, how does that fit the definition?
Food for thought. Thanks.
***Greg Jacobs***
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