Remember though, the 2nd amendment was pushed by James Madison who represented a slave owning state. During that time, the south had 'well regulated militias' w

Remember though, the 2nd amendment was pushed by James Madison who represented a slave owning state. During that time, the south had 'well regulated militias' which served as slave patrols, capturing runaway slaves and stamping down slave revolts which were common in that time. The southern states feared a strong federal government because they feared they will lose their slave holding powers, including losing the ability to have these militias controlling the slave population. You always have to read content in it's historical context. In other words, the kind of 'oppression' the wealthy class feared was the ability to lose their primary business of owning slaves.