[El Gato]

Does the average soldier carry a handgun issued to him by the military as part of his weaponry? No.

Depends on your definition of "average soldier" many Vehicle crews are issued handguns, virtually all officers are, as are aircrew. But the court ruling in Miller did not say "average" it said "ordinary military equipment", which the M-9 certainly is, and the 1911 certainly was before it. Calvary and other mounted troops were routinely issued handguns. In fact that was where the term "horse pistol" comes from, the early examples were so large that the "holster" was on the saddle not on the trooper. So yes indeed handguns were, are and are likely to continue to be "ordinary military equipment".

[robertpaulsen]

So, by your definition, the second amendment would also protect the individual right to keep and bear flame throwers, shoulder-fired anti-tank weapons, hand grenades, and any other "ordinary" equipment.

"So yes indeed handguns were, are and are likely to continue to be "ordinary military equipment".

"Alternatively, they argue that handguns are military weapons. Our reading of Miller convinces us that it does not support either of these theories. Under the controlling authority of Miller we conclude that the right to keep and bear handguns is not guaranteed by the second amendment."
-- Quillici v. Village of Morton Grove, 695 F.2d 261 (7th Cir. 1982)