State Constitutions
State Constitutions - 1835
The following are State constitution provisions for the militia and the right to bear arms as they existed in 1835 (when the resource was published).
Alabama
Article 1. Declaration of Rights.
23. Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defence of himself and the state. (pg. 322)
Connecticut
Article 1. Declaration of Rights.
17. Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defence of himself and the state. (pg. 104)
Delaware
Article 1.
17. No standing army shall be kept up without the consent of the legislature: and the military shall, in all cases and at all times, be in strict subordination to the civil power. (pg. 142)
Georgia
Article 4.
3. The general officers of the militia shall be elected by the general assembly, and shall be commissioned by the governor. All other officers of the militia shall be elected in such manner as the legislature may direct, and shall be commissioned by the governor; and all militia officers now in commission, and those which may be hereafter commissioned, shall hold their commissions during their usual residence within the division, brigade, regiment, battalion, or company, to which they belong, unless removed by sentence of a court martial, or by the governor, on the address of two thirds of each branch of the general assembly. (pg. 217)
Illinois
Article 5.
1. The militia of the state of Illinois shall consist of all free male able-bodied persons, (negroes, mulattoes, and Indians, excepted,) resident in the state, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, except such persons as now are, or hereafter may be, exempted by the laws of the United States, or of this state, and shall be armed, equipped, and trained as the general assembly may provide by law. (pg. 314)
Indiana
Article 1.
20. That the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state; and that the military shall be kept in strict subordination to the civil power. (pg. 262)
Kentucky
Article 10.
23. That the rights of the citizens to bear arms in defence of themselves and the state shall not be questioned. (pg. 234)
Louisiana
Article 3.
22. The free white men of this state shall be armed and disciplined for its defence; but those who belong to religious societies whose tenets forbid them to carry arms, shall not be compelled to do so, but shall pay an equivalent for personal service. (pg. 283)
Maine
Article 1, Declaration of Rights
16. Every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms for the common defence; and this right shall never be questioned. (pg. 21)
Maryland
The Declaration of Rights.
25. That a well regulated militia is the proper and natural defence of a free government.
26. That standing armies are dangerous to liberty, and ought not to be raised or kept up without consent of the legislature.
27. That, in all cases and at all times, the military ought to, be under strict subordination to and control of, the civil power.
28. That no soldier ought to be quartered in any house in time of peace, without the consent of the owner; and in time of war, in such manner only as the legislature shall direct.
29. That no person, except regular soldiers, mariners, and marines in the service of this state, or militia when in actual service, ought in any case to, be subject to or punishable by, martial law. (pg. 161)
Massachusetts
Part I. A Declaration of Rights of the Inhabitants of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
17. The people have a right to keep and to bear arms for the common defence. And as, in time of peace, armies are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be maintained, without the consent of the legislature: and the military power shall always be held in exact subordination to the civil authority, and be governed by it. (pg. 41)
Mississippi
Article 1. Declaration of Rights.
23. Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defence of himself and the state. (pg. 292)
Missouri
Article 13. Declaration of Rights.
3. That the people have the right peaceably to assemble for their common good, and to apply to those vested with the powers of government for redress of grievances, by petition or remonstrance; and that their right to bear arms in defence of themselves and of the state cannot be questioned. (pg. 351)
New Hampshire
Part 1. Bill of Rights.
2. All men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights - among which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property; and, in a word, of seeking and obtaining happiness. (pg. 63)
24. A well regulated militia is the proper, natural, and sure defence of a state.
25. Standing armies are dangerous to liberty, and ought not to be raised, or kept up, without the consent of the legislature. (pg. 65)
26. In all cases, and at all times, the military ought to be under strict subordination to, and governed by the civil power. (pg. 66)
New Jersey
10. That captains, and all other inferior officers of the militia shall be chosen by the companies in the respective counties; but field and general officers, by the council and assembly. (pg. 126)
* On the 20th of September, 1777, an act of the legislature was passed substituting the word state for the word colony, in commissions, writs, &c. - No other alteration has taken place in the constitution.
New York
Article 7.
5. The militia of the state shall, at all times hereafter, be armed and disciplined, and in readiness for service; but all such inhabitants of this state, of any religious denomination whatever, as from scruples of conscience may be averse to bearing arms, shall be excused therefrom, by paying to the state an equivalent in money: and the legislature shall provide by law for the collection of such equivalent, to be estimated according to the expense in time and money of an ordinary able-bodied militia man. (pg. 120)
North Carolina
17. That the people have a right to bear arms, for the defence of the state; and as standing armies, in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up; and that the military should be kept under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power. (pg. 191)
Ohio
Article 8.
20. That the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state; and as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they shall not be kept up, and that the military shall be kept under strict subordination to the civil power. (pg. 258)
Pennsylvania
Article 9.
21. That the right of the citizens to bear arms, in defence of themselves and the state, shall not be questioned. (pg. 137)
Rhode Island
Charter of, Granted by King Charles II. in the Fourteenth Year of His Reign.
<No specific mention of militia or right to bear arms> (pg. 92-102)
South Carolina
Article 9.
3. The military shall be subordinate to the civil power. (pg. 205)
Tennesee
Article 11, Declaration of Rights
26. That the freemen of this state have a right to keep and bear arms for their common defence. (pg. 245)
Vermont
Article 16. That the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state; and as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up; and that the military should be kept under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power. (pg. 84)
Virginia
Bill of Rights
13. That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defence of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace should be avoided, as dangerous to liberty; and that, in all cases, the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power. (pg. 180)
State Constitutions - 2013
The following are State constitution provisions for the militia and the right to bear arms as they exist today (October, 2013).
Alabama
Article 1. Declaration of Rights.
Right to bear arms.
That every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state.
http://www.legislature.state.al.us/codeofalabama/constitution/1901/CA-245557.htm
Alaska
Article 1. Declaration of Rights.
19. Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
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 individual right to keep and bear arms shall not be denied or infringed by the State or a political subdivision of the State. [Amended 1994]
Arizona
Article 2. Declaration of Rights.
Section 26. The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself or the state shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain, or employ an armed body of men.
http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/const/2/26.htm
Arkansas
Article 2. Declaration of Rights.
5. Right to bear arms.
The citizens of this State shall have the right to keep and bear arms, for their common defense.
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/assembly/Summary/ArkansasConstitution1874.pdf
Connecticut
Article First. Declaration of Rights.
SEC. 15. Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state.
http://www.ct.gov/sots/cwp/view.asp?q=392288
Delaware
Article 1. Bill of Rights.
§ 20. Right to keep and bear arms.
Section 20. A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and State, and for hunting and recreational use.
http://delcode.delaware.gov/constitution/constitution-02.shtml#P95_7849
Florida
Article 1. Declaration of Rights.
SECTION 8. Right to bear arms. —
(a) The right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves and of the lawful authority of the state shall not be infringed, except that the manner of bearing arms may be regulated by law.
(b) There shall be a mandatory period of three days, excluding weekends and legal holidays, between the purchase and delivery at retail of any handgun. For the purposes of this section, “purchase” means the transfer of money or other valuable consideration to the retailer, and “handgun” means a firearm capable of being carried and used by one hand, such as a pistol or revolver. Holders of a concealed weapon permit as prescribed in Florida law shall not be subject to the provisions of this paragraph.
(c) The legislature shall enact legislation implementing subsection (b) of this section, effective no later than December 31, 1991, which shall provide that anyone violating the provisions of subsection (b) shall be guilty of a felony.
(d) This restriction shall not apply to a trade in of another handgun.
History.—Am. C.S. for S.J.R. 43, 1989; adopted 1990.
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?Mode=Constitution&Submenu=3#A1S08
Georgia
Article I. Bill of Rights. Section I.
Paragraph VIII. Arms, right to keep and bear. The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed, but the General Assembly shall have power to prescribe the manner in which arms may be borne.
http://sos.georgia.gov/elections/GAConstitution.pdf
Hawaii
Article 1. Declaration of Rights.
RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS
Section 17. 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. [Ren Const Con 1978 and election Nov 7, 1978]
http://hawaii.gov/lrb/con/conart1.html
Idaho
Article 1. Declaration of Rights.
Section 11. RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS. The people have the right to keep and bear arms, which right shall not be abridged; but this provision shall not prevent the passage of laws to govern the carrying of weapons concealed on the person nor prevent passage of legislation providing minimum sentences for crimes committed while in possession of a firearm, nor prevent the passage of legislation providing penalties for the possession of firearms by a convicted felon, nor prevent the passage of any legislation punishing the use of a firearm. No law shall impose licensure, registration or special taxation on the ownership or possession of firearms or ammunition. Nor shall any law permit the confiscation of firearms, except those actually used in the commission of a felony.
http://legislature.idaho.gov/idstat/IC/ArtISect11.htm
Illinois
Article I. Bill of Rights.
SECTION 22. RIGHT TO ARMS
Subject only to the police power, the right of theindividual citizen to keep and bear arms shall not beinfringed.
http://www.ilga.gov/commission/lrb/con1.htm
Indiana
Article 1. Bill of Rights.
Section 32. The people shall have a right to bear arms, for the defense of themselves and the State.
http://www.in.gov/legislative/ic/code/const/art1.html
Iowa
Article I. BILL OF RIGHTS.
Military. The military shall be subordinate to the civil power. No standing army shall be kept up by the state in time of peace; and in time of war, no appropriation for a standing army shall be for a longer time than two years.
Article VI. MILITIA.
Composition--training. . The militia of this state shall be composed of all able-bodied male citizens, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, except such as are or may hereafter be exempt by the laws of the United States, or of this state, and shall be armed, equipped, and trained, as the general assembly may provide by law.
Amended 1868, Amendment [5]
Exemption. . No person or persons conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms shall be compelled to do military duty in time of peace: Provided, that such person or persons shall pay an equivalent for such exemption in the same manner as other citizens.
Officers. . All commissioned officers of the militia, (staff officers excepted,) shall be elected by the persons liable to perform military duty, and shall be commissioned by the governor.
http://www.legis.state.ia.us/Constitution.html
Kansas
Kansas Bill of Rights.
§ 4. Individual right to bear arms; armies. A person has the right to keep
and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and state, for lawful
hunting and recreational use, and for any other lawful purpose ; but
standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and shall not
be tolerated, and the military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power.''
http://www.kslib.info/Documents/Constitution.pdf
Kentucky
Bill of Rights.
Section 1.
Seventh: The right to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the State, subject to the power of the General Assembly to enact laws to prevent persons from carrying concealed weapons.
http://www.lrc.ky.gov/legresou/constitu/001.htm
Louisiana
Article I. Declaration of Rights.
§11. Right to Keep and Bear Arms
Section 11. The right of each citizen to keep and bear arms is fundamental and shall not be infringed. Any restriction on this right shall be subject to strict scrutiny.
Amended by Acts 2012, No. 874, §1, approved November 6, 2012, eff. December 10, 2012.
http://senate.legis.state.la.us/documents/constitution/Article1.htm#§11. Right to Keep and Bear Arms
Maine
Article 1. Declaration of Rights.
Section 1. Natural rights. All people are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent and unalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and of pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness.
Section 16. To keep and bear arms. Every citizen has a right to keep and bear arms and this right shall never be questioned.
http://www.maine.gov/legis/const/
Maryland
Declaration of Rights.
Art. 28. That a well regulated Militia is the proper and natural defence of a free Government.
Art. 29. That Standing Armies are dangerous to liberty, and ought not to be raised, or kept up, without the consent of the Legislature.
Art. 30. That in all cases, and at all times, the military ought to be under strict subordination to, and control of, the civil power.
http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/43const/html/00dec.html
Massachusetts
PART THE FIRST
A Declaration of the Rights of the Inhabitants of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Article I of Part the First of the Constitution is hereby annulled and the following is adopted:-
All people are born free and equal and have certain natural, essential and unalienable rights; among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties; that of acquiring, possessing and protecting property; in fine, that of seeking and obtaining their safety and happiness. Equality under the law shall not be denied or abridged because of sex, race, color, creed or national origin.
Article XVII. The people have a right to keep and to bear arms for the common defence. And as, in time of peace, armies are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be maintained without the consent of the legislature; and the military power shall always be held in an exact subordination to the civil authority, and be governed by it.
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/Constitution
Michigan
Article I. Declaration of Rights.
§ 6 Bearing of arms.
Sec. 6. Every person has a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of himself and the state.
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(q2ubjyjeagdxkq45k1qc2azc))/documents/mcl/pdf/mcl-chap1.pdf
Minnesota
Article I. BILL OF RIGHTS.
Sec. 14. Military power subordinate.
The military shall be subordinate to the civil power and no standing army shall be maintained in this state in times of peace.
ARTICLE XIII. MISCELLANEOUS SUBJECTS
Sec. 9. Militia organization.
The legislature shall pass laws necessary for the organization, discipline and service of the militia of the state.
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/constitution/
Mississippi
Article 3. Bill of Rights.
SECTION 12. Right to bear arms.
The right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person, or property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally summoned, shall not be called in question, but the Legislature may regulate or forbid carrying concealed weapons.
SOURCES: 1817 art I § 23; 1832 art I § 23; 1869 art I § 15.
http://www.sos.ms.gov/links/ed_pubs/pubs/Mississippi_Constitution.pdf
Missouri
Article I. BILL OF RIGHTS.
Right to keep and bear arms--exception. Section 23.
That the right of every citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person and property, or when lawfully summoned in aid of the civil power, shall not be questioned; but this shall not justify the wearing of concealed weapons.
Source: Const. of 1875, Art. II, § 17.
(2004) Section does not prohibit the General Assembly from enacting statutes allowing or disallowing the carrying of concealed weapons; the Concealed-Carry Act is therefore constitutional. Brooks v. State, 128 S.W.3d 844 (Mo.banc).
http://www.moga.mo.gov/const/A01023.HTM
Montana
Article II. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.
Section 12. RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS. The right of any person to keep or bear arms
in defense of his own home, person, and property, or in aid of the civil power when thereto legally
summoned, shall not be called in question, but nothing herein contained shall be held to permit the
carrying of concealed weapons.
http://courts.mt.gov/content/library/docs/72constit.pdf
Nebraska
I-1. Statement of rights.
All persons are by nature free and independent, and have certain inherent and inalienable rights; among these are life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and the right to keep and bear arms for security or defense of self, family, home, and others, and for lawful common defense, hunting, recreational use, and all other lawful purposes, and such rights shall not be denied or infringed by the state or any subdivision thereof. To secure these rights, and the protection of property, governments are instituted among people, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.
http://www.leg.ne.gov/laws/articles.php?article=I-1
Nevada
Article 1. Declaration of Rights.
Section. 1. Inalienable rights. All men are by Nature free and equal and have certain inalienable rights among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty; Acquiring, Possessing and Protecting property and pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness[.]
Section. 11. Right to keep and bear arms; civil power supreme.
1. Every citizen has the right to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes.
2. The military shall be subordinate to the civil power; No standing army shall be maintained by this State in time of peace, and in time of War, no appropriation for a standing army shall be for a longer time than two years.
[Amended in 1982. Proposed and passed by the 1979 legislature; agreed to and passed by the 1981 legislature; and approved and ratified by the people at the 1982 general election. See: Statutes of Nevada 1979, p. 1986; Statutes of Nevada 1981, p. 2083.]
https://leg.state.nv.us/Const/NVConst.html
New Hampshire
FIRST PART. BILL OF RIGHTS.
[Art.] 2. [Natural Rights.] All men have certain natural, essential, and inherent rights - among which are, the enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing, and protecting, property; and, in a word, of seeking and obtaining happiness. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by this state on account of race, creed, color, sex or national origin.
June 2, 1784
Amended 1974 adding sentence to prohibit discrimination.
[Art.] 2-a. [The Bearing of Arms.] All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state.
December 1, 1982
http://www.nh.gov/constitution/billofrights.html
New Jersey
ARTICLE I. RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES.
1. All persons are by nature free and independent, and have certain natural and unalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and of pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness.
ARTICLE V. SECTION III.
1. Provision for organizing, inducting, training, arming, disciplining and regulating a militia shall be made by law, which shall conform to applicable standards established for the armed forces of the United States.
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/lawsconstitution/constitution.asp
New Mexico
Article 2. Bill of Rights.
Sec. 6. [Right to bear arms.]
No law shall abridge the right of the citizen to keep and bear arms for security and defense, for lawful hunting and recreational use and for other lawful purposes, but nothing herein shall be held to permit the carrying of concealed weapons. No municipality or county shall regulate, in any way, an incident of the right to keep and bear arms. (As amended November 2, 1971 and November 2, 1986.)
http://sos.state.nm.us/pdf/2007nmconst.pdf
New York
ARTICLE XII. DEFENSE.
[Defense; militia]
Section 1. The defense and protection of the state and of the United States is an obligation of all persons within the state. The legislature shall provide for the discharge of this obligation and for the maintenance and regulation of an organized militia.
http://www.dos.ny.gov/info/pdfs/Constitution.pdf
North Carolina
ARTICLE I. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.
Sec. 30. Militia and the right to bear arms.
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; and, as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they shall not be maintained, and the military shall be kept under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power. Nothing herein shall justify the practice of carrying concealed weapons, or prevent the General Assembly from enacting penal statutes against that practice.
http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/legislation/constitution/ncconstitution.html
North Dakota
Article 1. Declaration of Rights.
Section 1. All individuals are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty; acquiring, possessing and protecting property and reputation; pursuing and obtaining safety and happiness; and to keep and bear arms for the defense of their person, family, property, and the state, and for lawful hunting, recreational, and other lawful purposes, which shall not be infringed.
http://www.legis.nd.gov/files/constitution/ArticleIDeclarationofRights.pdf
Ohio
Article 1. Bill of Rights.
§ 01 Inalienable Rights (1851)
All men are, by nature, free and independent, and have certain inalienable rights, among which are those of enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing, and protecting property, and seeking and obtaining happiness and safety.
§ 04 Bearing arms; standing armies; military powers (1851)
The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security; but standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and shall not be kept up; and the military shall be in strict subordination to the civil power.
http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/constitution.cfm?Part=1&ExpandSections=Yes
Oklahoma
Article 2.
§ 26. Bearing arms - Carrying weapons.
The right of a citizen to keep and bear arms in defense of his home, person, or property, or in aid of the civil power, when thereunto legally summoned, shall never be prohibited; but nothing herein contained shall prevent the Legislature from regulating the carrying of weapons.
http://www.odl.state.ok.us/lawinfo/laws/oklahoma-constitution.pdf
Pennsylvania
Article 1. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.
Right to Bear Arms
Section 21.
The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned.
http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Constitution.html
Rhode Island
ARTICLE I. DECLARATION OF CERTAIN CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND PRINCIPLES.
Section 22. Right to bear arms. -- The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/RiConstitution/C01.html
South Carolina
ARTICLE I. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.
SECTION 20. Right to keep and bear arms; armies; military power subordinate to civil authority; how soldiers quartered.
http://www.scstatehouse.gov/scconstitution/a01.php
South Dakota
ARTICLE 6. BILL OF RIGHTS.
§ 24. Right to bear arms. The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the state shall not be denied.
http://legis.state.sd.us/statutes/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=0N-6-24
Tennesee
Article 1. Declaration of Rights.
Section 24. That the sure and certain defense of a free people, is a well regulated militia; and, as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to freedom, they ought to be avoided as far as the circumstances and safety of the
community will admit; and that in all cases the military shall be kept in strict subordination to the civil authority.
Section 26. That the citizens of this state have a right to keep and to bear arms for their common defense; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms with a view to prevent crime.
http://www.state.tn.us/sos/bluebook/05-06/46-tnconst.pd
Texas
ARTICLE 1. BILL OF RIGHTS.
Sec. 23. RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS. Every citizen shall have the right to keep and bear arms in the lawful defense of himself or the State; but the Legislature shall have power, by law, to regulate the wearing of arms, with a view to prevent crime.
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/CN/htm/CN.1.htm#1.23
Utah
Article 1. Declaration of Rights.
Section 6. [Right to bear arms.]
The individual right of the people to keep and bear arms for security and defense of self, family, others, property, or the state, as well as for other lawful purposes shall not be infringed; but nothing herein shall prevent the Legislature from defining the lawful use of arms.
http://le.utah.gov/~code/const/htm/00I01_000600.htm
Vermont
CHAPTER I. A DECLARATION OF THE RIGHTS OF THE INHABITANTS OF THE STATE OF VERMONT
Article 1. [All persons born free; their natural rights; slavery prohibited]
That all persons are born equally free and independent, and have certain natural, inherent, and unalienable rights, amongst which are the enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety; therefore no person born in this country, or brought from over sea, ought to be holden by law, to serve any person as a servant, slave or apprentice, after arriving to the age of twenty-one years, unless bound by the person's own consent, after arriving to such age, or bound by law for the payment of debts, damages, fines, costs, or the like.
Article 16. [Right to bear arms; standing armies; military power subordinate to civil]
That the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the State--and as standing armies in time of peace are dangerous to liberty, they ought not to be kept up; and that the military should be kept under strict subordination to and governed by the civil power.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/statutes/const2.htm
Virginia
ARTICLE I. Bill of Rights.
Section 1. Equality and rights of men.
That all men are by nature equally free and independent and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their post erity; namely, the enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
Section 13. Militia; standing armies; military subordinate to civil power.
That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.
http://constitution.legis.virginia.gov/
Washington
Article I. Declaration of Rights.
SECTION 24 RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS. The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.
http://www.leg.wa.gov/LAWSANDAGENCYRULES/Pages/constitution.aspx
West Virginia
Article III
3-1. Bill of rights.
All men are, by nature, equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights, of which, when they enter into a state of society, they cannot, by any compact, deprive or divest their posterity, namely: The enjoyment of life and liberty, with the means of acquiring and possessing property, and of pursuing and obtaining happiness and safety.
3-22. Right to keep and bear arms.
A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and state, and for lawful hunting and recreational use.
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/wvcode/wv_con.cfm#articleIII
Wisconsin
ARTICLE I. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.
Right to keep and bear arms. SECTION 25. [As created Nov. 1998] The people have the right to keep and bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose.
[1995 J.R. 27, 1997 J.R. 21, vote November 1998]
http://legis.wisconsin.gov/rsb/unannotated_wisconst.pdf
Wyoming
ARTICLE I. DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.
Sec. 24. Right to bear arms. The right of citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and of the state shall not be denied.
http://soswy.state.wy.us/Forms/Publications/09WYConstitution.pdf