49 pages worth reading: How British gun control efforts sparked the American revolution

By Robert Willmann

The British attempt to seize guns and ammunition from independent-minded and perceptive people kicked off the revolution in 1775-1776 in a small part of North America that resulted in independence through the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and then -- perhaps as a counter-revolution -- the U.S. Constitution.  Here is a 49-page article published in the law journal of the Charleston Law School in South Carolina which describes how Britain's attempt to control and confiscate guns and ammunition from the settlers essentially ignited the American Revolution, as it included using force against the people.

https://turcopolier.typepad.com/files/british_gun_control_starting_american_revolution.pdf

 

Comments

[turcopolier]

Sadly, this won't open for me.

[LA Sox Fan]

Having read the article, it seems to support the notion that the Second Amendment was put in place to protect the rights of local governments to have an armed, well-regulated militia under democratic control. The men of Lexington and Concord had been practicing military drills as a local militia. They were under local military command. Powder was stored in a central location.

The British rightly look at these organized local militias as a threat. That’s why they tried to disarm them by taking away their powder. While certainly many of these militia participants owned their guns, this doesn’t mean that they were not part of the local militia.

To conclude, there is nothing in this historical context that should lead anyone to believe the Second Amendment gives a single individual unconnected to any local democratically controlled militia a right to sling a loaded M-15 over their shoulder when they go to the local McDonalds for a burger and fries.

[Jim Ticehurst]

It Opened for me just Fine...All There..

[Jim Ticehurst]

Charleston Law Review,,,,volume 6 Winter 2012 Number 2....Its Possible you can Google it..

[turcopolier]

All

It opened on another computer. Mus be firewalled on the first.

[English Outsider]

I take a different lesson from it. It was a finely balanced affair. Plenty of Loyalists around - they made up half the British army not counting the Hessians - and sometimes it had the look of a civil war as well as a war of independence.

I don't believe the Patriots could have lost long term. What was planned had they been defeated in arms was remarkably similar to what was imposed on the Irish in penal times. But that repression couldn't have worked, Loyalists or no. It would have summoned up a greater resistance. The country was too big and too many would still have had weapons. Once the fire had been set the British must have known they were on a loser in the long run.

But the Patriots could certainly have lost short term. That they didn't was more due to a fiercer conviction rather than to superior numbers or to foreign assistance. That's maybe the lesson to take from this bloody and hard fought Amerexit.

[walrus]

LA Sox, Unfortunately for your argument, it is clear from reading the documents that membership of a militia is not the sine qua non for firearm ownership, it’s the other way around.

You require the firearm so that you can potentially join the militia as an effective member. It is quite clear that the town committees enjoined everyone to arm themselves against the possibility that they may be required by the militia.

Furthermore the British were set on confiscating ALL weapons in private ownership. They made no distinction about militia membership. Neither should you.

[SAC Brat]

I find it interesting that the media forgets the US history with the later Militia Acts of 1792 and 1862. Would it be wrong to call a firearm with a bayonet a military weapon?

It conscripted every "free able-bodied white male citizen" between the ages of 18 and 45 into a local militia company. (This was later expanded to all males, regardless of race, between the ages of 18 and 54 in 1862.)

Militia members, referred to as "every citizen, so enrolled and notified", "...shall within six months thereafter, provide himself..." with a musket, bayonet and belt, two spare flints, a box able to contain not less than 24 suitable cartridges, and a knapsack.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militia_Acts_of_1792
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militia_Act_of_1862

[Jim Ticehurst]

Historical Note...The "Star Spangled Banner" Was Written By Francis Scott Key..on this Date..September 14...1814...

[Jim Ticehurst]

Also,,,Virginia..formed "The Committee of Correspondence" on March 12..1773 and had 11 Origional Members..Including Thomas Jefferson..Patrick Henry..Benjamin Harrison..and other Well educated Men..

[Jim Ticehurst]

I want to add to the Above Comments..That when these Great Minds..Came together in Council..and Debate..They laid Down The Greatest Corner Stone for any Nations Foundation..The Preamble and Article of TheUnited States Constitution...and Eventual Bill of Rights..Because of Those Freedoms..Our Nation..and Our Goverenment has gone through a Long Process...So That WE THE PEOPLE..of All Races and all Genders..Can Speake Freely..Get an Education..and Contrbute to Society.. That Means We now Have Very Well Educated..and/or Intelligent Women also Able to Make Their Contributions at ALL Levels..and are Great Writers..Educators..and Vital..Free to Use their Minds..Just as The Founding Fathers Were,,In todays World..My Sister was Able to Use Her Mind..and Skills..To Win The High School State Debate Championship at Our States Capitol..and Win a Scholarship..and New Car..which she was FREE to Drive.. In Order to Establish a More Perfect Union...Indeed...….

[Jim Ticehurst]

Historical Note..On this Date.....September 17th...The United States Constitution was Approved..September 17th....1787....Today is also National "Constitution and Citizenship Day.."..I am Blessed enough to Love Liberty..To Respect those Historical Figures..who made it Happen..At Great Sacrifice..And to Be able to Hear The Star Spangled Banner play loudly every morning..At The Base Next to Our Home..and can hear The Bugles Sound at Nite..".Day is Done..Day is Done.." Our Union Stands..