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To: Crazieman

My understanding is that, in the terms used at the time of drafting and ratification, “arms” meant any weapon that a common foot soldier could carry into battle, whereas “ordinance” is a reference to heavy weaponry, such as canon, which a common soldier could not carry into battle ...

Therefore, this would exclude any American citizen from, er-uh, “keeping and bearing” an Abrams Tank ... However, I see no problem with a 30 or 50 cal machine gun, bazooka, mortar, etc - since any of those could be carried by a common foot soldier ... Well, OK, the 50 cal would be a rather heavy piece of “arms” to carry around, unless you’re Rambo.


95 posted on 01/03/2016 12:57:15 PM PST by WTFOVR (I find myself exclaiming that expression quite often these days!)
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To: WTFOVR
Privately owned warships were acknowledged in the constitution with the line

"To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water; "

102 posted on 01/03/2016 4:35:01 PM PST by Mycroft Holmes (The fool is always greater than the proof.)
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