"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."
Does anyone else read this as the people OF the well regulated militia have the right to bear arms, and shall not be infringed? It would mean to that only those within the militia have the right, and those not pledging thier loyalty to the free state would not.
It was written before we considered ourselves a united country, infact we were a plot of "free" City States in a new world.
Secondly, it cites "being necessary to the security of a free state"... i see this as security from tyrany of an empire, not security of your personal property. If there is a threat of invasion, then i believe its ok to arm every man and woman for the cause of defending thier territory.
I also think its important to note that modern English is not the same as "Old English" If you read the constitution, you pretty much need a dictionary to figure out what the hell its saying. When interpreting this stuff, you have to do so with historical conditions in mind, and not strait out.