The law does "not extend to prohibit a man from keeping a gun for his necessary defence." Rex v. Gardner, 87 Eng. Rep. 1240, 1241 (K.B. 1739).
"The mere having a gun was no offense . . . for a man may keep a gun for the defense of his house and family. "Mallock v. Eastley, 87 Eng. Rep. 1370, 1374 (K.B. 1744).
"A gun may be kept for the defense of a man’s house." Wingfield v. Stratford, 96 Eng. Rep. 787 (K.B. 1752);
"It is not an offence to keep or use a gun."The King v. Thompson, 100 Eng. Rep. 10, 12 (K.B. 1787).
"A gun may be used for other purposes, as the protection of a man's house." Rex v. Hartley, II Chitty 1178, 1183 (1782).
A common jury instruction of the period in question on the meaning of the right to arms in the English Bill of Rights stated in part:
"The mere having a gun was no offense . . . for a man may keep a gun for the defense of his house and family. "Mallock v. Eastley, 87 Eng. Rep. 1370, 1374 (K.B. 1744).
"A gun may be kept for the defense of a man’s house." Wingfield v. Stratford, 96 Eng. Rep. 787 (K.B. 1752);
"It is not an offence to keep or use a gun."The King v. Thompson, 100 Eng. Rep. 10, 12 (K.B. 1787).
"A gun may be used for other purposes, as the protection of a man's house." Rex v. Hartley, II Chitty 1178, 1183 (1782).
A common jury instruction of the period in question on the meaning of the right to arms in the English Bill of Rights stated in part:
1776 Pennsylvania Constitution: That the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the state.
1777 Vermont Constitution: That the people have a right to bear arms for the defence of themselves and the State
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