Quote Originally Posted by Missileman View Post
The second amendment does not say that militia membership is required to own a gun. It says militia membership is a reason why gun ownership shall not be infringed. If the shit hits the fan, militias will spring up formed of private gun owners. The 2nd protects the existence of future militias, not current.
Exactly:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_...s_Constitution

As ratified by the States and authenticated by Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State:


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.[8
The bolded part is the subjunctive clause.