Reply To: Is the right to bear arms all about guns?

Home Forums Politics Is the right to bear arms all about guns? Reply To: Is the right to bear arms all about guns?

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akuperma
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The right to bear arms always referred to arms that you carried yourself. In the past it never referred to anything such as artillery. If you had the right to bear arms, it meant you had the right to go around wearing armour and carrying a sword or other hand weapon. If you didn’t have the right to bear arms (the case with Jews), you didn’t. No one was talking about anything larger. If no one in the 18th century (or earlier) thought the right to bear arms referred to weapons one couldn’t carry, then even an originalist would hold they weren’t covered.

Since the 2nd amendment refers to the state militia, it arguably would allow New York for example (that means Albany, not Gracie Mansion) to possess tanks, warships, etc. In modern times, the states aren’t interested and the “state” National Guard is equipped by the Federal treasury.