we all or most of us know that James Madison is considered the father of the American Constitution. I came across this when I was doing some research, it is the original speech made by madison to the Congress.
compare what he says in it and his proposals on the bill of rights to what we have today. it is amazing how one change of a word or miplaceent of a phrase can make such a difference.
http://www.usconstitution.net/madisonbor.html
especially this one.. if it had been inserted in the Constitution as origionally drafted there would be no confusion today on its meaning or its importance
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.