As much as I like seeing a student realize the importance of gun ownership and the 2nd Amendment, I see a little bit of big goverment conformity here. Should we all have the same "government issued" weapon? Should we all wear little plaid uniforms too?
I want a gun with a plaid stock.
Yes, absolutely. With the XM8 getting close to acceptance, it would make much more sense to give all those old M16 rifles to citizens, rather than just scrapping them or dumping them in warehouses somewhere.
The Swiss do, or at least all those of the same "cohort" do, older men have previous standard weapons.
The first Congress passed the first Militia Act, which required just this. Oh they gave some leeway as to the exact weapon, but they did require ownership and specified calibration. They also required a certain amount of powder and shot, as well as other accouterments be owned and in good working condition. I guess that founding generation was just a bunch of Big Government types? No but they recognized that citizens have both right and obligations.
BTW their power to do what they did, and could do again, is found in Art. 1, section 8:
"Congress shall have the power ... To provide for organizing, arming and disciplining, the Militia ... "
By disciplining they meant specifying the required drill standards, by organizing they meant saying what proportion of infantry, artillery, calvary, dragoons, etc, each state should have.
The Militia Act of 1792 was a federal law, adopted right after ratification of the Constitution, that made it MANDATORY for all male citizens between 18 and 45 to own a military-style rifle of a specified calibre:
I. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, That each and every free able-bodied white male citizen of the respective States, resident therein, who is or shall be of age of eighteen years, and under the age of forty-five years (except as is herein after excepted) shall severally and respectively be enrolled in the militia, by the Captain or Commanding Officer of the company, within whose bounds such citizen shall reside, and that within twelve months after the passing of this Act. And it shall at all time hereafter be the duty of every such Captain or Commanding Officer of a company, to enroll every such citizen as aforesaid, and also those who shall, from time to time, arrive at the age of 18 years, or being at the age of 18 years, and under the age of 45 years (except as before excepted) shall come to reside within his bounds; and shall without delay notify such citizen of the said enrollment, by the proper non-commissioned Officer of the company, by whom such notice may be proved. That every citizen, so enrolled and notified, shall, within six months thereafter, provide himself with a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, and a knapsack, a pouch, with a box therein, to contain not less than twenty four cartridges, suited to the bore of his musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of power and ball; or with a good rifle, knapsack, shot-pouch, and power-horn, twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a power of power; and shall appear so armed, accoutred and provided, when called out to exercise or into service, except, that when called out on company days to exercise only, he may appear without a knapsack. That the commissioned Officers shall severally be armed with a sword or hanger, and espontoon; and that from and after five years from the passing of this Act, all muskets from arming the militia as is herein required, shall be of bores sufficient for balls of the eighteenth part of a pound; and every citizen so enrolled, and providing himself with the arms, ammunition and accoutrements, required as aforesaid, shall hold the same exempted from all suits, distresses, executions or sales, for debt or for the payment of taxes.In modern terms, this would translate into every citizen being required to own a rifle chambered for .223 or 7.62 NATO
Just considering logistical issues; The short answer is yes. Any fire arm you care to own after that is entirely up to you and purchased at your expense.