In short, it was not about individual rights but about protecting the institution of slavery. It created militias as slave patrols. And despite conventional wisdom, militias were useless in the war for independence. Historian Carl Bogus’s new book Madison’s Militia, the Hidden History of the Second Amendment explains that it all goes back to 1688 England. Bogus says Madison and the other authors would be appalled at how Timothy McVeigh’s twisted interpretation has now become commonplace. And January 6th arises from this history.