Federal Judge enjoins enforcement of California's handgun requirements

[Amishman]

10. It actually was, as can be correlated by contemporary documents

It's in a lot of state constitutions, without the militia limitation. Here are a few I found in seconds with Google:

PA state constitution:

The right of the citizens to bear arms in defense of themselves and the State shall not be questioned

Delaware:

Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state.

Rhode Island:

The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Let's face it - it probably was meant to be an individual right. It also was probably meant to be damn near unlimited - private ownership of artillery was not only allowed but seen as beneficial. Trying to pretend otherwise is disingenuous and just undermines our credibility when pushing for gun safety reforms.

So yes, the founding fathers very likely meant it as an individual right and were fine with any citizen owning the most lethal weaponry available.

Which all together is a perfect example of why originalism is a terrible and dangerous idea. What was the intent of a bunch of elites in 1791 shouldn't handcuff us today.