I have to plead ignorance. Can you give a short explanation for the role that ‘Letters of Marque and Reprisal’ would play in a 2nd Amendment debate? Thanks.
>Can you give a short explanation for the role that ‘Letters of Marque and Reprisal’ would play in a 2nd Amendment debate?
A letter of marque and Reprisal is government authorization targeting [marking] an individual or group for punishment [reprisal]; similar, in concept, to a “Wanted” poster.
One option after 11 Sep was to use such letters against al Queda / Taliban; Ron Paul suggested that it would be more affordable than a war/military-operation.
It was a recognition of the important role that private citizens owning and operating the most fearsome and powerful weapons platform of the time played in national security. Those platforms? ‘Men of War’ — battleships fully armed with cannon, men, grenades, rifles, pistols, sabers and all other weapons as might be used.
A Letter of Marque presumes the issuee already possesses the ability to carry it out. To wit: in the days such Letters were used, it was assumed those who were issued such permission already owned battleships and had a crew to service them. Today, if such were issued, recipients would be presumed to already have (or have easy access to obtain) anything necessary to the task ranging from an M16 thru a fleet of crew-served arms.
Another way: one does not receive a Letter of Marque with the understanding that one _then_ procures the necessary equipment, most of which is currently verboten.
It implies civilian ownership of Warships......
During the American Revolution first the state legislatures, then both the states and the Continental Congress, then after ratification of the Constitution, Congress authorized and the President signed Letters of Marque. A ship owner would send in an application stating the name, description, tonnage and force (armaments) of the vessel, the name and residence of the owner, the intended number of crew, and tendered a bond promising strict observance of the country's laws and treaties, and of international laws and customs