Layman's Guide to Constitutional Provisions
United States Constitution- Bill of Rights
Second Amendment...
"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."
Kansas Bill of Rights
§ 4. "Bear arms; armies. The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security;
but standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and shall not be tolerated,
and the military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power."
Simple sentences that should be easy to understand, but seem to confuse many "educated" people while being completely clear to the average American citizen.
If you want to understand the United States Constitutional provision embodied in the Second Amendment you should read the words of Judge Cummings from the United States Court for the Texas Northern District.
But perhaps some additional comments about the Kansas provision are in order.
The Kansas provision is really two separate statements and not a statement of a right with a supporting reason as is the United States Bill of Rights Amendment Two. It is written so because the authors wanted to assure the people of Kansas that they, as individuals would be guaranteed their right to keep and bear arms. But it contains the reference to armies because the history of Kansas has many examples of private armies or gangs terrorizing the state prior to and during the Civil War. The Constitution of the State of Kansas has been rewritten several times, but the language remains. Most don't connect the words to the reasons anymore. If the provision was written today, to mean the same it could use these words.
§ 4. Section A The individual citizen has the right to keep and carry arms for defense and security.
Section B Private Armies, and gangs pose a threat to the peace and shall not be tolerated.
Section C The civil authorities shall be in strict control of the military.
Isn't that a little easier to understand.
Jim Macklin