"`` The right was in the context of the citizen soldier of the conscript militia . In the eighteenth century private arms were never strictly private . The public had a claim for public purposes . Coxe was a strong Federalist . He was employed in Hamilton 's Treasury Department during the Whiskey Rebellion . He expressed no concerns that the enrollment and inventory requirements of the Militia Act would infringe on right of the people to keep and bear their private arms. `` http : //www.potowmack.org/thequotes.html # coxe"
"Private guns were completely private . They were personal property and could not be seized . It was the man that carried the weapon who was required to provide service , and required to provide his own weapon . Since the enrollment and inventory requirements were specifically to ensure that every man had his own private rifle , shot , powder , kit to fight with , it would seem rather stupid to worry that it was infringing on peoples right to bear arms , would n't it ? Contrast this with today , where registration schemes have been used in places like new york to provide lists for seizure or surrender of firearms . In the one case , you have a law that is meant to insure that everybody has a weapon , i the other , it is a law determined to limit the accessibility of weapons . You really do n't see the difference here ?"
"In the eighteenth century private arms were never strictly private ."
"Private guns were completely private . They were personal property and could not be seized ."