Changes

:{{See also|Debate:Is the right to bear arms unalienable?}}

:{{See also|Debate:Is the right to bear arms unalienable?}}

==Colonial era==

===Colonial era===

In the years of 1774 and 1775, several incidents happened to give the colonists a fear that the British would take their guns away.  In September 1774, the '''''Powder Alarm''''' was a response to the removal of gunpowder from a magazine located in Somerville, Massachusetts.<ref>[https://www.massar.org/2014/12/07/building-to-a-revolution-the-powder-alarm-and-popular-mobilization-of-the-new-england-countryside-1774-1775/ The Powder Alarm and Mobilization of the New England Countryside, 1774-1775]</ref>  In 1775, [[Patrick Henry]] led a militia force after the '''''Gunpower Incident''''' in Williamsburg, Virginia.<ref>[https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-gunpowder-incident This Day in History: The Gunpowder Incident nearly incites rebellion in Virginia]</ref>

In the years of 1774 and 1775, several incidents happened to give the colonists a fear that the British would take their guns away.  In September 1774, the '''''Powder Alarm''''' was a response to the removal of gunpowder from a magazine located in Somerville, Massachusetts.<ref>[https://www.massar.org/2014/12/07/building-to-a-revolution-the-powder-alarm-and-popular-mobilization-of-the-new-england-countryside-1774-1775/ The Powder Alarm and Mobilization of the New England Countryside, 1774-1775]</ref>  In 1775, [[Patrick Henry]] led a militia force after the '''''Gunpower Incident''''' in Williamsburg, Virginia.<ref>[https://www.taraross.com/post/tdih-gunpowder-incident This Day in History: The Gunpowder Incident nearly incites rebellion in Virginia]</ref>

As noted in the ''Chronical'' of 1774, one of the most irritating actions the people were subjected to was the "seizing their arms and ammunition".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=mHpIAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA489 The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, Volume 44]</ref>

As noted in the ''Chronical'' of 1774, one of the most irritating actions the people were subjected to was the "seizing their arms and ammunition".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=mHpIAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA489 The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, Volume 44]</ref>

==Post Independence==

===Post Independence===

In 1786, the [[United States]] existed as a loose national [[government]] under the [[Articles of Confederation]]. This confederation was perceived to have several weaknesses, among which was the inability to mount a Federal military response to an armed uprising in western [[Massachusetts]] known as [[Shays' Rebellion]].

In 1786, the [[United States]] existed as a loose national [[government]] under the [[Articles of Confederation]]. This confederation was perceived to have several weaknesses, among which was the inability to mount a Federal military response to an armed uprising in western [[Massachusetts]] known as [[Shays' Rebellion]].