Lawrence Hunter and most of us are missing the point and has been hypnotized by the illusion. He states

"The Second Amendment was designed to ensure that individuals retained the right and means to defend themselves against any illegitimate attempt to do them harm, be it an attempt by a private outlaw or government agents violating their trust under the color of law. The Second Amendment was meant to guarantee individuals the right to protect themselves against government as much as against private bad guys and gangs."

This is incorrect. The Central Government decides what the second amendment means not the people. They will ignore what they do not believe in or like. They interpret how ever they like.

We have abdicated our authority over the Central Government.

It astounds me how many people still don't get it. We no longer control the Central Government, it controls us. All the blustering on the entire planet will not change that.

I'm sure the "we will rise up" line will be used in this thread. That will not work either. I get paid perfectly good money to pay attention to these things: The military has been loaded with the "less fortunate" of society. Many of them wil have virtually no problem firing upon your children, you or your spouse. They will take yet another page directly from the USSR. Station troops in an area that they did not come from. Military leaders have been purged. They will fire upon you, bank on it.