The 2nd Amendment to the United States Constitution states that "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
The first Militias were organized in the Massachusetts Bay Colony on December 13th, 1636 to defend against the growing threat of the Pequot Indians.
The Militia tradition meant citizens organizing themselves into Military units, responsible for their own defense. The members of the Militias were responsible for supplying their own firearms, ammunition and any other miscellaneous equipment necessary to fulfill their duty as Militia members.
The First Militia Act of 1792, passed May 2, 1792, authorized the President of the United States to call out the Militias of the several states, "whenever the United States shall be invaded, or be in imminent danger of invasion from any foreign nation or Indian Tribe".
The Second Militia Act of 1792 States that all Militia members shall provide themselves with "a musket, bayonet and belt, two spare flints, a box able to contain not less than 24 suitable cartridges, and a knapsack. Or, those enrolled, were to provide himself with a powder horn, 1/4 pound of gunpowder, 20 rifle balls, a shot-pouch, and a knapsack."
The Militia Acts were passed after the significant United States losses at St. Clair's defeat in 1791. St. Clair's defeat was blamed in part on the poor organization and equipment of the Army.
Article I, Section 8: Clause 15 of the United States Constitution gives Congress the power to pass laws for "calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions."
Article II, Section 2 of the United States Constitution designates the President of the United States as the Commander-In-Chief of the State Militias "when called into the actual Service of the United States."
The Militia Act of 1903, Section 4 states: "That whenever the United States is invaded, or in danger of invasion from any foreign nation, or of rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States, or the President is unable, with the other forces at his command, to execute the laws of the Union in any part thereof, it shall be lawful for the President to call forth, for a period not exceeding nine months, such number of the Militia of the State or of the States or Territories or of the District of Columbia as he may deem necessary to repel such invasion, suppress such rebellion, or to enable him to execute such laws, and to issue his orders for that purpose to such officers of the Militia as he may think proper."
The Militia Act of 1903, Section 13 states: "That the Secretary of War is hereby authorized to issue, on the requisitions of the Governors of the several States and Territories, or of the Commanding General of the Militia of the District of Columbia, such number of the United States standard service magazine arms, bayonets, bayonet scabbards, gun slings, belts, and such other necessary accouterments and equipments as are required for the Army of the United States, for arming all of the organized Militia in said States and Territories and District of Columbia, without charging the cost or value thereof..."
The National Defense Act of 1916 authorized the President to mobilize the National Guard in case of War or other National Emergency, for the duration of the event.
Private Militias have not been a part of the United States Defense System for more than one hundred years. The Legal Militias in the United States are supplied Guns, Ammunition, and anything else that they need to perform thier duties. The 2nd Amendment, which was necessary to allow the people to have the necessary weapons when called upon to protect the States, or Federal interests, has not been needed for more than one hundred years.
To claim that you have the "Right to Bear Arms", is taking the 2nd Amendment to a place that it was never intended to go. People are buying and possessing guns to come together in a common defense of their State or the United States, here or on Foreign Soil.
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