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Poster: andyfox
I'm criticizing the idea that the wording of the second amendment, and the idea behind it, was considered, at the time of its composition, to refer to an individual right.
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What then is the explanation of Tench Coxe's writings 10 days after Madison's introduction of the proposed amendments explaining what they meant? Why would Madison offer Coxe a rousing approval for his published sentiments if they were so opposite to what you say was actually embraced in the proposed 2nd Amendment? Coxe explained the 4th article of amendment this way:
<ul type="square">"As civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as the military forces which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow-citizens, the people are confirmed by the next article in their right to keep and bear their private
arms."
Remarks on the First Part of The Amendments to the Federal Constitution, FEDERAL GAZETTE, June 18, 1789, at 2, col. 1[/list]Coxe sent a copy of his commentary to Madison on the same date and as Halbrook and Kates write:
<ul type="square">Madison wrote back acknowledging “Your favor of the 18th instant. The printed remarks inclosed in it are already I find in the Gazettes here [New York].” Madison approvingly added that ratification of the amendments “will however be greatly favored by explanatory strictures of a healing tendency, and is therefore already indebted to the co-operation of your pen.”
Madison apparently saw Coxe’s defense of the amendments in the New York Packet the day before he wrote to Coxe. The Coxe article was also prominently displayed on the first page of the July 4 celebration issue of the Massachusetts Centenial, and was no doubt reprinted elsewhere.
Tench Coxe and the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, 1787-1823, 7 William & Mary Bill of Rights Journal, Issue 2, 347-99,(Feb. 1999) [pgs, 16 - 17, footnotes removed, link goes to a pdf file][/list]