On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — July 26, 1776
On this day 250 years ago in Easton, Pennsylvania, the Committee of Observation of Northampton County (the local governing body of the County during the Revolution) recorded in its minutes a case against three men
summoned by this Committee to appear before them to show cause why they refuse to deliver up their fire arms, they being Non-Associators, and they condemning the Authority of this Committee refused to pay any obedience to their summons. And upon a New Ordinance of Convention Colonel George Taylor sent to the house of Joseph Stackhouse the Elder to disarm him and his said sons a party under the Command of Capt. John Nelson, who accordingly brought them to Easton. And the two Sons being now brought before this Committee for examination respectively say as follows, viz; Joseph the son declares that he sold his Rifle to his brother Robert and that it is in the possession of his brother. And the said Robert declares that he has in his possession the said Rifle also a Musket or Gun of his Grand Father and his own Rifle and that they are all loaded and that he would discharge them, against those who would take them out of his hands. Therefore the said Robert stands committed with his Father who is so refactory & inflexible that he will not give this Committee the least satisfaction in the matter: And the said Joseph the Son is discharged upon paying cost.
This case illustrates that during the Revolution, local governments kept records of who owned firearms and would send militiamen to confiscate firearms from people who refused to enlist in the militia, even if they were not suspected of being Loyalists. People who refused to hand over their firearms faced trial, fines, jail time and public condemnation. Notwithstanding what the Supreme Court rules now about the original intent of the Second Amendment to the Constitution, the real history reveals that our Founders considered the Right to Bear Arms a collective right of states and communities to defend themselves; it was not a right of individuals to carry guns notwithstanding state and local laws and ordinances restricting the ownership of firearms.
2 responses to “On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — July 26, 1776”
When the Committee of Observation sought to take weapons from the Joseph Stackhouse family, I’m not surprised Robert said, “… he would discharge them, against those who would take them out of his hands.”
Whether or not one agrees with the motives of the body politic, it’s historic that this is a person’s first response in such situations.
According to Google AI, “When the same action yields the same result again and again, philosophers call it uniformity.” To expect a different response is called insanity!
On This Day In The Revolution 
2 responses to “On this day 250 years ago in the Revolution — July 26, 1776”
When the Committee of Observation sought to take weapons from the Joseph Stackhouse family, I’m not surprised Robert said, “… he would discharge them, against those who would take them out of his hands.”
Whether or not one agrees with the motives of the body politic, it’s historic that this is a person’s first response in such situations.
According to Google AI, “When the same action yields the same result again and again, philosophers call it uniformity.” To expect a different response is called insanity!
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Undoubtedly why they came up with the Constitution, with amendments, after the war was over…
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