Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/07pdf/07-290.pdf
Page Number: 74.0

Cite as:  554 U. S. ____ (2008) 

7 

STEVENS, J., dissenting 

a  matter  of  significant  public  interest  for  almost  two  cen­
turies,  that  fact  should  not  obscure  the  contemporary
concerns that animated the Framers. 

The  parallels  between  the  Second  Amendment  and
these  state  declarations,  and  the  Second  Amendment’s 
omission  of  any  statement  of  purpose  related  to  the  right 
to  use  firearms  for  hunting  or  personal  self-defense,  is
especially striking in light of the fact that the Declarations
of  Rights  of  Pennsylvania  and  Vermont  did  expressly
protect  such  civilian  uses  at  the  time.    Article  XIII  of 
Pennsylvania’s 1776 Declaration of Rights announced that 
“the  people  have  a  right  to  bear  arms  for  the  defence  of 
themselves  and  the  state,”  1  Schwartz  266  (emphasis
added);  §43  of  the  Declaration  assured  that  “the  inhabi­
tants of this state shall have the liberty to fowl and hunt
in  seasonable  times  on  the  lands  they  hold,  and  on  all 
other lands therein not inclosed,” id., at 274.  And Article 
XV of the 1777 Vermont Declaration of Rights guaranteed 
“[t]hat the people have a right to bear arms for the defence 
of themselves and the State.”  Id., at 324 (emphasis added).
The  contrast  between  those  two  declarations  and  the 
Second  Amendment  reinforces  the  clear  statement  of 
It 
purpose  announced  in  the  Amendment’s  preamble. 

—————— 

and Security of all free States depends (under God) upon the Exertions 
of  a  well  regulated  Militia,  and  the  Laws  heretofore  enacted  have
proved  inadequate  to  the  End  designed.”    Conn.  Acts  and  Laws  p.  585  
(hereinafter 1782 Conn. Acts). 

These  state  militia  statutes  give  content  to  the  notion  of  a  “well­
regulated militia.”  They identify those persons who compose the State’s 
militia;  they  create  regiments,  brigades,  and  divisions;  they  set  forth
command  structures  and  provide  for  the  appointment  of  officers;  they
describe how the militia will be assembled when necessary and provide 
for  training;  and  they  prescribe  penalties  for  nonappearance,  delin­
quency,  and  failure  to  keep  the  required  weapons,  ammunition,  and
other  necessary  equipment.  The  obligation  of  militia  members  to 
“keep”  certain  specified  arms  is  detailed  further,  n. 14,  infra,  and 
accompanying text.