[marktwain]

“It covers all of the ‘terrible instruments of war’. Swords, spears, firearms, armor....”

It seems clear, there. I believe it covers all weapons that can be carried.

[JRandomFreeper]

I view warships and cannon as arms, also. The new US of A had to borrow private ships and cannons when they first started up.

/johnny

[GingisK]

I believe it covers all weapons that can be carried.

I do not think a stun gun is an "arm", a weapon of war. As such, it is not protected by the 2nd. This same rule applied to a sawed-off shotgun.

[MeatshieldActual]

Its not JUST man-portable weapons, but indeed, ANY weapon of military/militia value. That is why the founders specifically allowed artillery, warships, grenades, etc.., it wasn’t until 1934 that the Federal Government started infringing on the right to own “weapons of war”.

[PapaBear3625]

"Congress shall have no power to disarm the milita. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birth-right of an American...The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people." - Tench Coxe, writing as "the Pennsylvanian" in the Philadelphia Federal Gazette, 1788