Thomas Jefferson, of Virginia:“No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms.” — Proposed Virginia Constitution, 1776 “Laws that forbid the carrying of arms. . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. . . Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.” — Jefferson`s “Commonplace Book,” 1774-1776, quoting from On Crimes and Punishment, by criminologist Cesare Beccaria, 1764
George Mason, of Virginia: “[W]hen the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man, who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them; but that they should not do it openly, but weaken them, and let them sink gradually.”. . . I ask, who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people, except a few public officers.” — Virginia`s U.S. Constitution ratification convention, 1788
And to the “they didn’t mean military grade weapons” oh yes they did, muskets where military grade at that time. Also, they where not afraid the deer where coming, and to fight a tyrannical government for your freedom you wont do it with that 3 rnd bolt.
TX to unforgivenone at Fox News, https://www.foxnews.com/politics/buttigieg-to-orourke-i-dont-need-lessons-from-you-on-courage
True, but that also fails to take into account that the Constitution specifically makes mention of Letters of Marque. This plainly indicates that they envisioned the private ownership of crew-served weapons as well.