Page "Second Amendment to the United States Constitution" Paragraph 15

Although there is little doubt that the writers of the Second Amendment were heavily influenced by the English Bill of Rights, it is a matter of interpretation as to whether they were intent on preserving the power to regulate arms to the states over the federal government ( as the English Parliament had reserved for itself against the monarch ) or whether it was intent on creating a new right akin to the right of others written into the Constitution ( as the Supreme Court recently decided ).

Some in the U. S. have preferred the " rights " argument arguing that the English Bill of Rights had granted a right.

The need to have arms for self-defence was not really in question.

Peoples all around the world since time immemorial had armed themselves for the protection of themselves and others, and as organized nations began to appear these arrangements had been extended to the protection of the state.

Without a regular army and police force ( which in England was not established until 1829 ), it had been the duty of certain men to keep watch and ward at night and to confront and capture suspicious persons.

Every subject had an obligation to protect the king's peace and assist in the suppression of riots.