[Djarum]

How does one define "arms"? If one defines the term to include anything that could conceivably be used as a weapon, such a definition would include just about everything. I don't think the Founders intended it to be quite so broad.

Though it wasn't defined during the Convention's debates, we can assume it includes more than personal weapons: the amendment's purpose was to prevent the militia from being rendered ineffective -- disarmed -- before a standing army. Their ineffectiveness is just as certain if, while not fully disarmed, they are prevented from bearing arms of equal calibre to those of their (potential) opponent.

[arthurus]

The supreme court has implied in the short shotgun decision which I cannot cite right now(I wish I could find it) that "arms" is what the military uses.