Militias, when properly formed, are in fact the people themselves and
include all men capable of bearing arms. [...] To preserve liberty it is
essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms and be
taught alike, especially when young, how to use them.
-- Senator Richard Henry Lee, 1788, on "militia" in the 2nd Amendment
No free man shall ever be de-barred the use of arms. The strongest
reason for the people to retain their right to keep and bear arms is as
a last resort to protect themselves against tyranny in government....