Sorry if this is a dumb question...

[ChrisAHF]

in the 2nd amendment, what exactly is the difference between the word "keep" and "bear"? I have a pretty good idea but wanted some clarity, thanks.

[pitt45GAP]

keep (kēp) Pronunciation Key
v. kept, keep·ing, keeps

v. tr.

To retain possession of: kept the change; must keep your composure. To have as a supply: keep an ax in the shed.

"keep." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 13 Mar. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/keep>.

bear
to carry; bring: to bear gifts
to have and be entitled to: to bear title.
to have and use; exercise: to bear authority; to bear sway.
To hold up; support.
To carry from one place to another; transport.

"bear." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. 13 Mar. 2008. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bear>.

[Whiskey Delta]

Keep is merely possession, say in one's home.

Bear is the possession with a purpose, ie carrying it afield to hunt pheasant...or communists..

[apython]

I'm certainly no expert but I always took it as, keep = own and, bear = to carry. I could be wrong though

[pitt45GAP]

In 18th century english bear in its verbal form meant to bring forth, to bring with...

keep is still the same meaning... to have or possess...

the "controversy" over 2a is that it is not an individual right.... which is odd as the first 10 ammendments are all individual rights according to Adams, Jefferson, et al..

the individual right of 2a became attacked during the height of popular socialism and communism in the early 20th century... wherein groupism is more important than individualism. this was seen in the progressive and democratic party of the 1920s - present. and more recently in the republican party.

yes we have an inalienable and un-infringeable right to own, posses, carry, transport, and otherwise have guns.

a modern translation from 18th century english to 21st century of 2a would be.:
"the right of the people to possess and carry arms, being necessary to maintain a country free of tyranny, and to ready a militia for such, shall neither be denied or abridged"

[Pa. Patriot]

I'm certainly no expert but I always took it as, keep = own and, bear = to carry.

This is probably the simplest way to put it accurately.

[pitt45GAP]

I do not mean to hijack this thread - but i think the intent of the thread is in the vein that I was writing to.

Anyone who wishes to do so may educate themselves on the intent of 2A.

Read quotes from Madison, Noah Webster, Jefferson, etc...

essentially the MAIN purpose of 2A is to have the people so armed as to be able to overcome any standing REGULAR Army either foreign or DOMESTIC.

Noah Webster summed it well:
"Another source of power in government is a military force. But this, to be efficient, must be superior to any force that exists among the people, or which they can command; for otherwise this force would be annihilated, on the first exercise of acts of oppression. Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States"

The original text of what was to become the Second Amendment, as brought to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives of the first session of the First Congress was:

"The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; a well armed and well regulated militia being the best security of a free country; but no person religiously scrupulous of bearing arms shall be compelled to render military service in person"

I think those 2 quotes from our framers kinda explains intent... why the SCOTUS, Congressman and Presidents think there is a controversy is nothing more than a form of attempted tyranny as cited by Webster.

[Pooch15825]

I do not mean to hijack this thread - but i think the intent of the thread is in the vein that I was writing to.

Anyone who wishes to do so may educate themselves on the intent of 2A.

Read quotes from Madison, Noah Webster, Jefferson, etc...

essentially the MAIN purpose of 2A is to have the people so armed as to be able to overcome any standing REGULAR Army either foreign or DOMESTIC.

Noah Webster summed it well:
"Another source of power in government is a military force. But this, to be efficient, must be superior to any force that exists among the people, or which they can command; for otherwise this force would be annihilated, on the first exercise of acts of oppression. Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed; as they are in almost every kingdom in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops that can be, on any pretence, raised in the United States"

The original text of what was to become the Second Amendment, as brought to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives of the first session of the First Congress was:

"The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; a well armed and well regulated militia being the best security of a free country; but no person religiously scrupulous of bearing arms shall be compelled to render military service in person"

I think those 2 quotes from our framers kinda explains intent... why the SCOTUS, Congressman and Presidents think there is a controversy is nothing more than a form of attempted tyranny as cited by Webster.

One thing most people don't now and should always push for clarification on is the wording of the 2nd Amendment, most notibly which words were capitalized in the original version compared to today.

The Second Amendment, as passed by the House and Senate, reads:

“ A well regulated (M)ilitia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. ”

The original and copies distributed to the states, and then ratified by them, had different capitalization and punctuation:

“ A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the (P)eople to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
Notice the original version had the word PEOPLE capitalized, which leaves no doubt as to what was meant when it came to keeping and bearing arms. The Amendment passed by the House and Senate had the word Militia capitalized.

Both versions are commonly used in official government publications. The original hand-written copy of the Bill of Rights, approved by the House and Senate, was prepared by William Lambert (Clerk of the House) and hangs in the National Archives.

Personally I feel it is more important that people realize that this "KEEP AND BEAR" is THEIR RIGHT and not a MILITIA RIGHT.Pooch15825

[Swarner793]

I'm certainly no expert but I always took it as, keep = own and, bear = to carry. I could be wrong though

This is it in a nutshell. Clear and concise.

Be safe.

Scott