"A well regulated militia, being necessary . . ." is frequently forgotten, omitted or ignored in the whole gun debate. The POINT was that gun ownership in 1789 was PREDICATED upon the owner's membership in the State Militia (nowadays known as the National Guard) In the 18th century this was mandatory service for ALL men age 16 to 60, and avoidance of militia drill was punishable by jail or fine. In other words, you had the right to be in the National Guard, not to own a gun for the heck of it. If we really wanted to keep the spirit of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution alive, any citizen who could legally buy a military style automatic weapon,would be AUTOMATICALLY enlisted in his or her state's National Guard, and be required to attend drill complete with arm and ammunition. How would the NRA like that?