Letter: Second Amendment mostly obsolete

The Second Amendment is one sentence with two phrases and only one meaning. It starts "A well-regulated militia being necessary for the security of a free state." The intent is a civilian controlled military-style force.

Militias in 18th century America were civilian paramilitary organizations created and regulated locally, but state chartered. Volunteers had to attend training sessions and supply a musket or rifle. The weapon was their personal property. Defense was to be accomplished by personally armed militia members who could be quickly mobilized into a army.

Today, the militias are the State National Guards which are heavy federalized.

The second part modifies the first and ensures militia members could keep their firearms by stating a citizen's right to keep and bear arms could not be infringed. In the 18th century you could not have militias without private ownership of firearms. This part no longer applies as the federal government supplies equipment and weapons to National Guard Units.

The amendment is about defense of he Constitution and the country, not firearm ownership. The framers took for granted most households had firearms. In many aspects the Second is obsolete in today's world. Our security depends on standing federal armed forces not locally controlled militias.

The Amendment does not prohibit ownership or regulation of firearms. Federal Law should ban automatic weapons and weapon with little use. Regulation should be a State reasonability via uniform gun law passed by each State. This will create uniform base while

allowing each State to make modifications applicable to is own needs. Federal firearm laws do not work as they are one size fit all and each State ha different requirements and customs.

Donald Michela

South Elgin