One of liberals’ favorite arguments for the impermanence of the Second Amendment is the argument that, because the prefatory clause of the amendment discusses “a well-regulated militia,” the right to keep and bear arms is only protected in a militia context (read our debunk of that theory here). Now it appears that at least one local official in a deep blue state tried to put that theory to the test and failed. From the Westford Eagle of Westford, Massachusetts:
A gun control debate that was meant to bring discussion to the Town Meeting floor fizzled in Westford last night (Feb. 20) when Selectman Robert Jefferies withdrew his warrant article seeking to amend the town’s firearms bylaw.[...]
An ongoing debate that began in December when Jefferies called for the formation of a militia in town and then filed a bylaw amendment limiting certain firearms and feeding devices, ended tonight with hundreds of Second Amendment supporters filing into the Stony Brook School to voice opposition, dozens from neighboring towns.
But their voices were silenced when Jefferies said he was withdrawing the article.
“This was meant to be a discussion,” he said. “But it’s no longer a discussion.”
