To impeach, or not to impeach

[David Horn]

(11-28-2019, 05:25 AM)Eric the Green Wrote: The second amendment was not instituted to allow citizens to take up arms against the federal government. That is treason, and that is specifically mentioned in the constitution. From what I have learned, the amendment was instituted because the nation had no army and was dependent to defend itself on a militia composed of well-trained citizens who supplied their own arms. These militias were used to put down revolutions and riots by those who considered the government oppressive, such as the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794, and likely was passed so that southern slaveowners could put down a feared slave revolt.

All correct, but the militias had a law enforcement side as well.  Remember, few police existed in any sense of the word: no sheriffs, no marshals, no constables. So the militias acted as a supplement to the meager law enforcement in place, hence the 2nd Amendment.  Because our society and institutions have changed so drastically, it makes sense to view the Constitution as a living document, but dogmatic conservatives believe the opposite and hold power for now.  So the 2nd stays in its perverted Scalia form, and so does the arcane amendment process that makes changing that nearly impossible.