[rmlew]

"implicit right of civilian ownership of naval artillery?" ***Interesting. This is the first I’ve heard of this angle. Do you have some further references or links?

The U.S. Constitution provides in Article I, Section 8:

The Congress shall have Power ... To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

Letters of Marque and Reprisal allowed armed civilian ships to capture enemy shipping in a manner that would otherwise be piracy. That these and other civilian ships would be armed was a given in the 18th century.

[Kevmo]

Basically privateers, right? Sounds a lot like militia to me. Thanks for the link.

[Kevmo]

There are so many laws & precedents & rabbit holes in the constitution now, that even members of the SCOTUS are just following their own emotional opinions rather than seriously deliberating the issues. It’s a tragedy, and a sign that this republic could be doomed.