A modest proposal on gun control

Let's cut to the end here.    Enough of all this hair-splitting about exactly what the 2nd Amendment means by "right to bear arms."   Let's take that as a given and simply define what "arms" means.

Now, let's also assume that the most vehement zealots for owning guns also are high on the "original meaning" of the Constitution.   That is, it means what it meant in 1791, not what those same words might refer to today.

So let's say that individuals have the right to own weapons that were available in 1791 when the 2nd amendment was adopted.

That would be the musket -- a long gun, antecedent to the rifle, which had to be loaded from the front end of the muzzle.   Gun powder, wrapped in a twist of paper, and the bullet were stuffed into the end of the musket, then packed down with a long rod inserted into the end of the musket.   A really good shooter could get off about four shots per minute and have to re-load between each shot.

Here's the modest proposal.   Let there be no restrictions on the sale, ownership, or carrying privileges of muskets.   That should satisfy the 18th century definition of "right to bear arms."

And then regulate the hell out of all other guns.

Problem solved.

Ralph