[NTHockey]

Article IX
Sect. XXI. To bear arms. That the right of the citizens to bear arms, in defence of themselves and the state, shall not be questioned. PA State Constitution of 1790 (successor to 1776 Constitution and in line with the 2nd Amendment, US Constitution).

Freedom of the press is NOT absolute. You can’t print libel, sedition or treason.

Freedom of speech is NOT absolute. You can’t yell “Fire” in a crowded theater or “Bomb” in any public place.

So too, the 2nd Amendment is NOT absolute. There are weapons that truly have no business in the hands of the people - nuclear weapons, tanks, ships of war, etc. - and those restricted to licensed people - i.e., automatic weapons.

[FBRhawk]

Ships of war were routinely held in private hands in revolutionary times. Letters of Marque were given to private individuals who had light warships armed with cannon.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***tanks, ships of war,***

I'm still waiting on my letters of Marque and Reprisal.

What the SCOTUS thought about gun control in the pre Civil War era.

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0060_0393_ZO.html

It would give to persons of the negro race, who were recognised as citizens in any one State of the Union, the right to enter every other State whenever they pleased, singly or in companies, without pass or passport, and without obstruction, to sojourn there as long as they pleased, to go where they pleased at every hour of the day or night without molestation, unless they committed some violation of law for which a white man would be punished; and it would give them the full liberty of speech in public and in private upon all subjects upon which its own citizens might speak; to hold public meetings upon political affairs,

and to KEEP AND CARRY ARMS wherever they went.

[Spktyr]

“Ships of war” were not only permissible for private ownership to the Founders, but encouraged. Where do you think they were to get ships for ‘Letters of Marque and Reprisal’ that are specifically enumerated in the Constitution?

That’s right, the Founders had NO problem with people owning battleship-equivalents.

[DCBryan1]

ships of war, etc.

Wrong. Look up the history of privateers and corvettes under letters of Marque and reprisal.

The government didnt have enough naval FIREPOWER and enlisted PRIVATE CITIZENS with CANNONS and war implements early in the republic.

If my neighbor wants a M1 Abrams, fine: 1) Keep it on your side of the road, 2) Don't fire main armament after I put my kids to bed, and 3) invite me to a live fire every once in a while.

[Wonder Warthog]

"There are weapons that truly have no business in the hands of the people - nuclear weapons, tanks, ships of war, etc. - and those restricted to licensed people - i.e., automatic weapons."

History disagrees with you. For a huge chunk of history, private citizens (admittedly wealthy ones) owned cannon-equipped naval vessels (ships of war)- the nearest equivalent of the "nuclear weapon" of the era. Often more than one.

Prior to the 1930's, you could buy a full-auto Thompson at a hardware store. And that era was far more law-abiding than today in spite of that.