General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: As long as we're getting rid of monuments to slave owners, [View all]Josiesdad
(43 posts)If you are familiar with Professor Bogus' famous essay on the History of the Second Amendment (and others) he make a very compelling case that the original intent of adding the right to bear arms to the bill of rights was to entice Madison's home state (Virginia) into ratifying the newly proposed constitution. They were reluctant to get behind it up to that point. Their major concern was that their Slave Patrol (aka State Militia) would, under the new constitution, fall under the control of the federal government and would no longer be their protection against slave revolts. This fear was a very real and long standing in the south in this era and was mentioned prominently ('... HE HAS EXCITED DOMESTIC INSURRECTIONS ...') in our Declaration of Independence.
So... if an argument can be made that the electoral college should be abolished as a vestige enshrined in the constitution to protect the institution of slavery... A much stronger argument can be made that the 2nd amendment's only useful purpose was to protect Slave Owners. It too is an anachronism and should be repealed.