Well can you point to the part of the 2nd A that grants the State the right to deny felons, the mentally ill firearms, and set age requirements??? Why would a citizen have to petition to have his natural rights restored???
I'll state the obvious, NO RIGHT is without limits or free of restrictions. The debate is where those limits 'stop'.... :2wave:
Now back to your point-
Fact the militia showed up to battle the Redcoats with CIVILIAN grade muskets. They lacked the 'cosmetic' feature of a bayonet attachment point. So sad when you have to face a British regiment with them...
It was the State that furnished the MILITARY grade muskets (supplied by France in large part) and they took them back up to be stored in armories for their 'well regulated' militia that didn't fair so well at the Battle of Bladensburg (also referred to as the Bladensburg Races)
So from the very beginning of our nation's struggle to gain independence the citizen militia which brought what they owned brought a CIVILIAN grade weapon to face well trained troops armed with MILITARY grade weapons.
The results varied greatly- as much as due to generalship and discipline than the grade of weapon used...
eace