But Lawrence, your adding information or requirements not in evidence in the original post. the post simply refers to AWS structural welding. The contractor or the authority could say you can only hold the electrode holder or gun with one hand or hanging upside down. Those wouldn't be AWS requirements.
I believe I recollect an interpretation on this related question as it applies to tubulars (it could be ASME or AWS, I can't remember). If the welder fails the 6G, he isn't qualified to weld in any position. However, if the welder welds a 5G successfully, but fails the 2G, he is qualified for only those positions the 5G qualifies the welder to weld. In other words, the welder is not qualified to weld in the horizontal positions.
Al