"Gunner" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 17 Dec 2003 04:57:11 GMT, Jim Wilson
wrote:


The reason for the amendment remains murky, but the House debate on the
topic supports the notion that at least some of the Representatives meant
for it to protect the individual's right and, in one gentleman's view,
"to secure the people against the mal-administration of the government."

I suggest for a better bit of insight..read the Federalist Papers..and
the Anti-Federalist papers, where the individuals in question spoke
rather frankly about the reasons behind the Constitutions various
elements


Those will help to understand the nature of the debate, but, like any
polemics in a political contest, neither one is the legislative argument
itself. That's one reason why the Supreme Court has been unsteady on the
whole issue: the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers are unofficial
arguments, and don't have the weight of the minutes of government
proceedings.

Ed Huntress