"The concept that 'everyone is in the militia' is not the intent of the second amendment." I didn't actually suggest that it was. My statement is that the sec

"The concept that 'everyone is in the militia' is not the intent of the second amendment." I didn't actually suggest that it was. My statement is that the second amendment is an individual right, not confined to the members of a militia, but that even if it were, you needn't be currently involved in a militia to be eligible. "The Battle of Athens could easily have played out without firearms. Angry mobs marching on courthouses have been around forever. Firearms just makes the process shorter if you start using them." Maybe. They could have petitioned the state legislature and, assuming they weren't complicit, would have gotten action in as little as a couple of months, during which time the ballots would have been destroyed and the damage done, and the illegal elections may or may not have been ultimately overturned. "Like the end of Prohibition? Smoking marijuana? Women's vote? Equal rights for minorities? Gay marriage?" Very good points actually, and it is generally why I believe so strongly in our political system, even when it sometimes fails us. I should amend my statement to "seldom" restored, for greater accuracy.