It is funny what can be found on the Internet, almost by accident.

This had escaped my attention but in March, Gov. Haley Barbour made an interesting comment when talking about the mandate to buy insurance that is in the controversial health care bill signed into law earlier this year by President Barack Obama.

amp"I do not believe the United States government has a right ... the authority or power to force us to purchase health insurance any more than, in the name of homeland security, they can force every American to have to buy a gun,amp" the Hill reported the Mississippi governor saying on ABC's amp"This Week.amp"

Touche'.

That is a powerful response to liberal Democrats who might not be crazy about gun rights, but are gung-ho about universal health care, I thought.

But that darn Internet struck again. A few more clicks on my MacBook keyboard turned up an account of how in 1792 President George Washington, better known as the father of our country, signed into law a bill mandating that every amp"free able-bodied white male citizenamp" between the age of 18 and 45 purchase a gun.

The Militia Act apparently went into great detail about the specifics of what the citizens should own in terms of guns and ammo.

It was not only a mandate to buy, but a mandate about the type of weapon and other equipment to purchase. And believe it or not, there was a debate about whether the federal government should subsidize the purchase for those who could not afford to buy a gun.

Eventually, it could be argued the federal government did provide a subsidy. What does this prove? Perhaps nothing. The Founding Fathers, many of whom were in Congress in 1792, were not right about everything. That is why the Constitution has evolved and has been amended to deal with such issues as slavery, women's rights and the election of senators.

Now, people a lot smarter than me point out what was at issue with the 1792 law was the Second Amendment of the Constitution, stating a amp"well-regulated militia being necessary,amp" while the health care mandate relies on the Commerce clause of the Constitution giving Congress the authority to regulate interstate commerce. But, no doubt, Washington and the 1792 Congress did put a mandate on a certain percentage of the population.

Barbour has joined a lawsuit, filed by several states, claiming the health care mandate is unconstitutional. Would he have sued George Washington? I know - it's a silly question.

But the 1792 law does reveal that from the very beginning our leaders have viewed certain mandates as in the best interest of our country.

In later years came the mandate for those who work to buy into pension plans and health care plans for the elderly. There also is a mandate to buy car insurance if you drive.

In 1792, America was still a new, unsettled land. A policy decision was made that citizens needed guns to protect the nation.

In 2010, a policy decision was made that this country had long ago come to the conclusion that if a person shows up dying in an emergency room that person is entitled to health care regardless of his or her ability to pay. And if that person does not have health insurance, others with the ability to pay - those with health insurance - will be forced to cover for the uninsured's care.

The Congress, in an effort to deal with added health care costs caused by those who choose not to have insurance, passed the individual mandate.

In 2010, it was decided that it was in the best interest of the economic well being of the country for people to purchase health insurance. Perhaps the courts will say health care is where the mandates should end. Perhaps that is the right legal ruling. Perhaps it is not.

But both the 1792 gun mandate and the 2010 health insurance mandate were viewed by elected officials as being in the best interest of the country. It should not be forgotten that the individual mandate, before it was a cornerstone of a Democratic president's health care reform legislation, was actually proposed by and supported by leading Republicans.

But hey, people can change their mind - be it about George Washington, gun rights or health care. That is protected in the First Amendment, which also appears to be under assault from time to time.

Contact Bobby Harrison, the Daily Journal's Capitol Bureau Chief at bobby.harrison@djournal.com, or call (601) 353-3119.