...it says "arms". The right to keep and bear arms shall not be abridged.
Daniel Boone had a cannon, and used it on humans. He wasn't a rennactor. New England sea captains sailed in what were essentially private ships of war, cannons poking out both sides. The Founding Fathers, by what they practiced, did not envision denying any weapon of war for private ownership.
So how come I can't privately own a nuclear weapon?
Not that I really want to own one. Its just that that line was crossed a long time ago. Privately owned battleships? Privately owned tanks? A nice flamethrower for Christmas? How about a howitzer?
As a "rocket scientist" in real life, I've fantasized about entering those pumpkin chucking contests... with a ballistic missile. Orbit the pumpkin....
The point of this diary is that the discussion is about where to draw the line. There is a line. No doubt there is a line already.
For me, hunting.. fine. Target shooting?.. fine. Automatic weapons with large magazines? No.