What does this mean?!?!

[Lkwinnipesaukee]

This is in the MA Constitution:

Article XVII. The people have a right to keep and to bear arms for the common defence. And as, in time of peace, armies are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be maintained without the consent of the legislature; and the military power shall always be held in an exact subordination to the civil authority, and be governed by it.

Does the second sentence refer to the People bearing arms, or is it talking about maintaining an army (militia?) when not at war??

Translation please?


Thanks

 

[Scrivener]

OK, just what part of "armies" are you having trouble understanding?

First sentence: People can bear arms for COMMUNITY PROTECTION; not their own individually (compare and contrast with the Second Amendment).

Second sentence: Irrelevant, as states cannot maintain individual armies. It's purpose (similar to that in US Constitution) is to express a POLICY (long since abandoned) against standing armies.

 

[Lkwinnipesaukee]

Alright, alright. Thanks Scriv.

 

[ScottS]

Compare and contrast with the Constitution of your neighbor to the immediate North:

Part 1, Article 2a: All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property, and the state.