In both pre-Revolution colonial days, as well as during the American Revolution, many locales not only required every able-bodied freeholder to participate in militia activites, including provision of arms, ammunition, and accoutrements, but provided that those who could not because of religious restrictions or other matters of conscience were required to pay a special tax in order to provide arms and equipment to others willing to serve but unable to pay for their own equippage. These are well documented facts, although generally overlooked by those who wish to disengage themselves from the realities of American history.
In short, while any law limiting the ability of the average citizen to keep and bear arms is generally prohibited by the Second Amendment, laws have been upheld that require those who choose not to keep and bear arms to pay special taxes to support those who are ready to uphold their civic duties but haven't the financial ability to properly equip themselves for community defense duties.
This is a very interesting field for pursuing legislation that not only supports individual rights, but places some burdens upon those who choose not to participate in community defense.
How many would stand up to speak against individual rights to keep and bear arms if they were required to pay an assessment in lieu of militia service in order to support those willing to serve, but without the ability to arm themselves in accordance with duly adopted laws?
We remain a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. Law enforcement and community defense remain the responsibilities of the people, although we have chosen to retain a "select militia" (i.e.: local and state police, sheriffs, national guard, etc) for the purpose of conducting the day-to-day functions so that the rest of us may go about our business.
Appointing others to stand in our shoes does not relieve us of our responsibilities to act in the common defense. All it does is to provide a trip-wire mechanism allowing the community to marshal its resourses and respond when required, every citizen standing ready in the defense of every other citizen. This requires individuals possessing both the commitment to community as well as the means to defend it.
