[Kevmo]

implicit right of civilian ownership of naval artillery?
***Interesting. This is the first I’ve heard of this angle. Do you have some further references or links?

[rmlew]

"implicit right of civilian ownership of naval artillery?" ***Interesting. This is the first I’ve heard of this angle. Do you have some further references or links?

The U.S. Constitution provides in Article I, Section 8:

The Congress shall have Power ... To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;

Letters of Marque and Reprisal allowed armed civilian ships to capture enemy shipping in a manner that would otherwise be piracy. That these and other civilian ships would be armed was a given in the 18th century.

[OneWingedShark]

From the Constitution:
“To declare War, grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make Rules concerning Captures on Land and Water;”

From Wikipedia:
In the days of fighting sail, a Letter of Marque and Reprisal was a government license authorizing a private vessel to attack and capture enemy vessels, and bring them before admiralty courts for condemnation and sale. Cruising for prizes with a Letter of Marque was considered an honorable calling combining patriotism and profit, in contrast to unlicensed piracy which was universally reviled.
[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Letter_of_marque ]

So, obviously the Letter of Marque requires a fully stocked and armed warship.