The evidence he uses can be separated into two sections: The historical libertarian ideas and the actual framing of the Bill of Rights. The historical libertarian ideas encompass the ideas of the armed civilian on the character of the nation, the fear of tyrannical governments and a comparison of American republican virtue with decadence and disarmament under European monarchies. Discussion of the framing of the Bill of Rights includes how large numbers of state amendments were melded into a few final amendments and how concerns for the potential to disarm individuals shaped the framers …show more content…
There are some limitations put on it in certain writings. For instance, Marchmont Nedham suggests that arms should be born only by responsible citizens and James Harrington adds the need to be a landowner. Shalhope indicates that these exceptions are just that, specific exception of individuals who could be denied arms, rather than saying that only specific people should be allowed arms. In summary, early libertarian thought shapes American republican thought through a distrust of standing armies which can be wielded by tyrannical governments; the concept of the virtuous, independent, and armed individual; and the need for these individuals to come together in state militias to protect from threats both within and from without the state. The right to bear arms is seen as individual, with the potential for it to be withheld from specific individuals for the good of the public, but that only a tyrannical government would seek to withhold the right to bear arms from all