I think the Gov’t probably does have the power to regulate guns in a limited sense. That would be setting standards for proof testing and the like for any weapon, private or militia.
They could probably also set standards for militia issue weapons; that is to say define a standard militia rifle, ammo and so on. Also in the context of militia training and usage only, they could set rules and regulations.
Otherwise I agree with your point.
c.w.
I’d sure LOVE to have you show me the part of the US Constitution which gives the federal gov’t that power. I’m not talking rules, regulations, state laws, etc. I’m talking about the explicit power designated to the Federal Government to do such things. In the actual words of the Constitution. ‘Cuz if it ain’t there, it ain’t anywhere.
The US Constitution was written to give the Federal Gov. only certain specified powers. All the rest are kept at the state level or retained by “the people”.
“The two enemies of the people are criminals and government, so let us tie the second down with the chains of the constitution so the second will not become the legalized version of the first.”
—Thomas Jefferson
“The powers delegated by the proposed Constitution to the federal government are few and defined [and] will be exercised principally on external objects, as war, peace, negotiation and foreign commerce.”
—James Madison, Federalist Paper No. 45
“No one can read our Constitution without concluding that the people who wrote it wanted their government severely limited; the words ‘no’ and ‘not’ employed in restraint of government power occur 24 times in the first seven articles of the Constitution and 22 more times in the Bill of Rights.”
—Edmund A. Opitz
Again, show me the words. State’s may have that power, but I find nothing within the four corners of the Constitution giving the Federal Gov’t. those powers.
I could be wrong.......... NAW!
While most State militias would want federal army standard issue ammo, etc. to take advantage of prices and uniformity, I'd still leave that to the States.
The only Federal intervention should be in inherent safety (for the user) of the firearm, if then, and that would come under standards testing.