R U dense? As a "stand alone" statement the first phrase contains a form of the verb "to be" (I don't remember what part 'o speech it be; I'll let you Googlists lookitup) which for right-thinking men who were reasonably well-eddycated schoolboys stands in lieu of the sentence: "We gathered here accept the notion that a well regulated militia is necessary to the security of a free people.": It is NOT a dependent clause; IT IS AN ELLIPTICAL CLAUSE and in addition NOT NO WAY NO HOW A DEPENDENT ONE!!!! BYE