[Impugn]

I think that interpretation would fall apart on the understanding that women and children were also allowed to own firearms. Slaves obviously weren’t, but they were legally defined as 3/5 of a person at the time (for unrelated reasons).

Cool...slaves could own 3/5ths of a gun...leave off the trigger and the barrel.

[robertpaulsen]

"Cool...slaves could own 3/5ths of a gun...leave off the trigger and the barrel."

Nah. It means they couldn't own a six-shooter. Only a three-shooter. A real disadvantage.