A common question to both sides...

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45. To further elaborate...

During the revolution, some factions among the citizens militia were of varying help to the federal cause due to their varied experience and skills (or lack thereof). By protecting and promoting a militia armed, skilled and experienced as any 'regular' army would be, the framers enabled a town or community to raise a force as may be needed and whenever needed to see to local, regional or national security.

Without arms in the hands of those citizens, an armory would need to be established. Mustering to collect arms and then marching to the site of an engagement could cripple the response to certain types of threats.

The intention of the framers was to protect arms held in private hands to ensure their quick availability along with affording the owner with skill and familiarity with the arms. Day to day shooting for practice, to hunt and for the defense of self, family and property all augmented skills valuable in a military confrontation. Recently, hunters and woodsmen have such skills and form a valuable resource for today's military to draw from.