Today in 1791, Virginia becomes the last state to ratify the Bill of Rights, making the first ten amendments to the Constitution law and completing the revolutionary reforms begun by the Declaration of Independence. Before the Massachusetts ratifying convention would accept the Constitution, which they finally did in February 1788, the document’s Federalist supporters had to promise to create a Bill of Rights to be amended to the Constitution immediately upon the creation of a new government under the document.
The first ten amendments were drafted by James Madison and loosely based on Virginia’s Declaration of Rights.
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Today in 1978 President Jimmy Carter states that as of January 1, 1979, the United States will formally recognize the communist People’s Republic of China (PRC) and sever relations with Taiwan.
By the 1970s, from the U.S. viewpoint, closer relations with the PRC would bring economic and political benefits. Economically, American businessmen were eager to try and exploit the huge Chinese market. Politically, U.S. policymakers believed that they could play the “China card”—using closer diplomatic relations with the PRC to pressure the Soviets into becoming more malleable on a variety of issues, including arms agreements.
The PRC also had come to desire better relations with its old enemy. It sought the large increase in trade with the United States that would result from normalized relations, and particularly looked forward to the technology it might obtain from America. The PRC was also looking for allies. A military showdown with its former ally, Vietnam, was in the making and Vietnam had a mutual support treaty with the Soviets.
Carter’s announcement that diplomatic ties would be severed with Taiwan (which the PRC insisted on) angered many in Congress. The Taiwan Relations Act was quickly passed in retaliation. It gave Taiwan nearly the same status as any other nation recognized by the United States and also mandated that arms sales continue to the Nationalist government. In place of the U.S. embassy in Taiwan, an “unofficial” representative, called the American Institute in Taiwan, would continue to serve U.S. interests in the country.
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Today in 1998, the U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on the Judiciary releases a 265-page report recommending the impeachment of President Bill Clinton for high crimes and misdemeanors.
The subsequent impeachment proceedings were the culmination of a slew of scandals involving the president and first lady Hillary Clinton. The Clintons were suspected of arranging improper real-estate deals, fundraising violations and cronyism in involving the firing of White House travel agents. Added to the mix were stories of Clinton’s extra-marital affairs and a sexual harassment claim filed against him. The report accused Clinton of concealing evidence, giving misleading testimony and influencing witnesses. In the opinion of the majority of the House, Clinton’s actions “undermined the integrity of his office.” Democratic leaders also disapproved of Clinton’s conduct but preferred to formally censure the president over impeachment.
The House of Representatives voted to impeach Clinton on December 19. On January 7, 1999, the impeachment trial began in the Senate–it was the first such trial since President Andrew Johnson . Clinton was acquitted on February 12, 1999.
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Today in 1945, General Douglas MacArthur, in his capacity as Supreme Commander of Allied Powers in the Pacific, brings an end to Shintoism as Japan’s established religion. The Shinto system included the belief that the emperor, in this case Hirohito, was divine.
Step one in the plan to reform Japan entailed the demobilization of Japan’s armed forces.
Step two was the dismantling of Shintoism as the Japanese national religion. Hirohito was forced to renounce his divine status, and his powers were severely limited; he was reduced to little more than a figurehead.
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Today in 1993 the GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade) Treaty was approved by delegations from 117 countries. The treaty was designed to reduce international tariffs, eliminate trade quotas, and protect intellectual property.
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Rest in peace Alton Glenn Miller, bandleader, musician, arranger, and composer, who is presumed dead following a plane crash in the English Channel today in 1945. He was age 40. Glenn Miller was born March 1, 1904, at Clarinda, Iowa.
The crashed plane and crew and passengers remain undiscovered and missing to this day.

Rest in Peace Tatanka Iyotake known as Sitting Bull, Sioux war chief, medicine man (shaman), and resistance leader of government disenfranchisement of his people, who was shot and killed resisting arrest by Indian police at the Standing Rock reservation, South Dakota, today in 1890. Sitting Bull is believed to have been born near Grand River, South Dakota, about 1831, which would make him age 58 or 59. He is buried at Mobridge, South Dakota.

Why do you insist on re-phrasing the 2nd. While a well regulated (trained) militia was one part of the need for the second it certinaly was not the sole purpose. Read the Federalist papers and try a little honesty. It demeans you to come here and lie.

(sigh)
The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; a well armed and well regulated militia being the best security of a free country: but no person religiously scrupulous of bearing arms shall be compelled to render military service in person. — James Madison, Speech introducing amendments in the House of Representatives, June 8, 1789

Article the Fifth.
A well regulated militia, composed of the body of the People, being the best security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed…
— Amendments Proposed by the House of Representatives, August 24, 1789

Article the Fourth.
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.
— Amendments proposed by the Senate, September 14, 1789

Article the Fourth.
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. — Amendments Proposed to the States, September 28, 1789

Amendment II
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.
— The Bill of Rights, as ratified by the states, December 15, 1791

Of course, the Founding Fathers realized that private ownership of firearms was a necessary tool of survival, especially by settlers in wilderness areas of the country. The second amendment plainly states that citizens shall have a right to possess firearms; nor have I ever implied otherwise.

At the time, federal regiments, the navy, the marines, were disbanded after the Revolutionary War was concluded. States had distrust toward a standing army—as opposed to a citizen militia.

“As standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, THEY OUGHT NOT to be kept up.”
—State constitutions of Pennsylvania and North Carolina

“Standing armies are dangerous to liberty, and ought not be raised or kept up WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE LEGISLATURE.”
—Bill of rights in state constitutions of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Delaware and Maryland (with some minor alteration of the direct quote). [Note: An army is at the discretion of the state legislature, not Congress.]

In the Federalist #24, Alexander Hamilton treats the subject extensively.
“TO THE POWERS PROPOSED to be conferred upon the federal government, in respect to the creation and direction of the national forces, I have met with but one specific objection, which is, that proper provision has not been made against the existence of standing armies in time of peace….”

I don’t see how I could have misquoted the 2nd amendment in the context intended by the Founding Fathers.

In conclusion, AndyA, there are a good number of people who would hurt my feelings if they called me a liar. Fortunately for me, you are not one of them.
Your habitual derisive invective applied to smarter people than me—including other subscribers to this site—puts me in good company.