General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "A WELL REGULATED MILITIA, being necessary to THE SECURITY of a free state..." Some facts for you [View all]TrollBuster9090
(6,113 posts)English countrymen didn't have a historical right to bear (small) arms is a straw man argument.
For nearly 1000 years the English monarchs EXPECTED the countrymen to be armed with longbows, and actually held archery contests with prizes to make sure they kept their marksmanship sharp. The purpose was to A) have an armed citizenry to repel invaders, and B) have an armed yeomanry to call up for foreign campaigns. They were ENCOURAGED to have long bows but discouraged from having/making CROSSBOWS because they didn't want the English countrymen to rely on them instead of longbows Henry Vth's successful campaigns in France were the confirmation of that philosophy, when the English bowmen could shoot 10 arrows in the time it took a French crossbowman to shoot one bolt.