[GulfBreeze]

You prove it.

[spunkets]

"You prove it."

You can't prove a negative genius.

[tacticalogic]

Check your history. Privateers - fully armed warships, in the hands of ordinary citizens.

[Redcloak]

Spunkets is correct. Artillery pieces, naval artillery in particular, were owned by private citizens at the time the Constitution was ratified. (To borrow from Sen. Miller, what do you think those privateers with letters of marque used on the high seas? Spit wads?!)