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Entry: Gun Rights, the Militia, and Community Link: http://www.takimag.com/blogs/article/gun_rights_the_militia_and_community#31230 Post contents: In an ideal world, every healthy adult male between certain ages would be in the organized militia, and everyone would be in it or a veteran of it, barring medical or religious excuses. Arms and equipment--as in 1792--would be standardized, provided by oneself, and if you couldn't afford them or avoided service, you could not vote. Certainly you should also be allowed to own any other small arms you want in addition to standardized issue. Switzerland has it right in this regard. As for subordination, there are two aspects. First, we should all be subordinate to the laws, just as legislation is subordinate to the Constitution. This is the meaning of self-government, and this is why the Founders' rallying call was "no taxation without representation" not some extremist nonsense about all taxation being slavery or theft. Further, it is worthwhile in performing militia tasks for men to be subordinated to officers, preferably of their own choosing, whether picked directly or through some chain of command set up by their local elected officials. This is the import of the Washington quote above; without discipline, order, and a chain of command, a militia is pretty much useless in discharging militia-type tasks. Sent at: 2008 11 20