Opponents of the Constitution had a big problem with giving the Federal government the power to raise and keep a standing army. This was based on what King George had done with his standing army before and during the Revolutionary War. The supporters pointed to the fact that the States still had the right to keep militias, and in fact that the Federal government was obliged to fund and equip them while the States controlled their officers. The militias could keep the States protected from the Federal forces. “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary for the security of a free State …”

So now the States are secure from the Feds. But to be effective in this role, that militia will have to be made up not just of the standard call-up of the local farmers; it will have to consist in part of a group of people who spend a lot of time drilling and training; a “well-regulated” Militia. This essentially is the State’s standing army. So how will the public be protected for any abuse of their use by the State authorities?

Simple. The public will protect themselves. “… the right of the people to keep and bear arms, will not be infringed.” The militia will not be able to oppress the public if the public itself is armed.

Read Federalist Paper 29. It spells it all out. Of course, Senators like Sen. Feinstein either a) don’t want people to be able to resist government abuse, or b) don’t think it’s ever going to happen.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., on CBS “60 Minutes”: “If I could have gotten 51 votes in the Senate of the United States for an outright ban, picking up every one of them — Mr. and Mrs. America, turn them all in — I would have done it.”

Don’t think it can’t happen.

I’m starting to shiver uncontrollably. 2 weeks more just isn’t enough time anymore. Then again, the 2 years we’ve been enduring this campaign cycle have seemed too long.