When the second amendment was penned, people owned flintlocks.

[jmg257]

24. The 2nd was penned because the people had the right, along with the duty, to serve in the militias.

Those militias were THE first line of defense for our liberties. They, the people themselves, would uphold the ideals set forth in the Preamble, and uphold the guarantees made in the body of the constitution.

The militias HAD to be effective. They HAD to be well-trained and well-armed. They were "necessary".

I don't know what the founders envisioned, but having the people provide themselves with the best arms related to their efficiency as militias was what they wanted.

It was not so the people could take on the government, but because effective militias would remove the pretense for the government to maintain a large standing army in the 1st place.

I do not think the founders envisioned the people deciding the militias were NOT the best security, and that a huge military was.

THAT is where they got it wrong.

"Whenever Governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins." E. Gerry - debating the article that became the 2nd amendment.

ETA: They also didn't pen them lightly. But also figured the peole would ultimately decide.

"I am inclined to think that absolute restrictions in cases that are doubtful, or where emergencies may overrule them, ought to be avoided. The restrictions however strongly marked on paper will never be regarded when opposed to the decided sense of the public"
...
Should an army in time of peace be gradually established in our neighbourhood by Britn: or Spain, declarations on paper would have as little effect in preventing a standing force for the public safety. The best security agst. these evils is to remove the pretext for them."

Madison to Jefferson, on a Bill of Rights being proper.