The Well-Regulated Militia

Conservatives usually ignore the actual text of the Second Amendment. But now, with more Americans getting sick of the slaughter, they have to at least pretend like the text matters. And this brings us to the lovely state of South Carolina:

A South Carolina state senator is proposing that every citizen in the state over 17 who can legally own a gun become a member of a militia to prevent federal laws from allowing gun seizures or restrictions.

According to South Carolina’s Constitution, the governor has the power to call up an “unorganized militia” comprising “all able-bodied male citizens of the State between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years.”

Sen. Tom Corbin (R) is proposing expanding membership to the militia to everyone who is 17 years and older, arguing that if many residents are part of this regulated militia, it would protect them from federal restrictions on weapons.

Corbin did not immediately respond to requests for comment, but in an interview with the Associated Press he said his proposal could “prevent the federal government from ever confiscating any of your weapons because at the end of the day the federal government cannot disarm a standing army.”

The bill, sponsored by several Republican senators, including Sens. Dwight A. Loftis, Josh Kimbrell, Billy Garrett and Tom Rice, and first introduced by Corbin in February, claims that all militia members “shall have the right to possess and keep all arms,” including rifles, shotguns, handguns and magazines, acquired by South Carolina residents as of Dec. 31, 2020.

I guess this is what passes for Republican political intellectualism these days.