[rjsimmons]

The term arms is very specific in the language of the days that the Constitution and Bill of Rights were written, they are a little more ambiguous today, but still mean the same to those in the know. Once a firearm reaches a certain calibre, it no longer falls into the arms definition, but then becomes ordnance. A cannon falls into this latter definition. The same is true for items like RPGs, bombs, nuclear weapons, etc.

[rhombus]

Once a firearm reaches a certain calibre, it no longer falls into the arms definition, but then becomes ordnance.

So the Green Mountain boys captured ordnance from Fort Ti... not arms?

[robertpaulsen]

"but still mean the same to those in the know"

Doesn't "arms" have a military connotation?

For example, a military person would say that he heard "small-arms fire". A civilian would say he heard "gunfire".

Very specific language, indeed.

[El Gato]

Once a firearm reaches a certain calibre, it no longer falls into the arms definition, but then becomes ordnance. A cannon falls into this latter definition. The same is true for items like RPGs, bombs, nuclear weapons, etc.

That must be why we negotiate arms limitation treates with foreign nations. Wouldn't want them to have too many small arms. </sarcasm

Arms includd cannon in the days when the second amendment was ratified. If you, or your group, could afford them, you could own them. And the Constitution means now what it meant then.