[supercat]

When the 2nd amendment was written, I doubt the founding fathers had WMD (which are arms), tanks, machine guns, hand grenades, etc. in mind.

Private merchant ships often had cannons (those that didn't would be easy prey for pirates). I think in a duel between a merchant ship armed with 18th-century cannons and someone with an AK-47, the merchant ship would win.

[hsalaw]

I think in a duel between a merchant ship armed with 18th-century cannons and someone with an AK-47, the merchant ship would win.

Peace through superior firepower. Had to say that. I have a very nice friend who's a liberal at heart, and every time she tells me we should strive for peace, I tell her we are, through superior firepower.