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→Where the Second Amendment comes from: Prior to Independence
:{{See also|Debate:Is the right to bear arms unalienable?}}
:{{See also|Debate:Is the right to bear arms unalienable?}}
==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>
Shortly after the ride of [[Paul Revere]], it was learned that General Gage gave orders to Colonel Smith to destroy all arms and ammunition and related items for defense use:
<blockquote>Sir:
In obedience to your Excellency's commands, I marched on the evening of the 18th inst., with the corps of grenadiers and light infantry for Concord, to execute your Excellency's orders with respect to destroying all ammunition, artillery, tents, etc., collected there, which was effected, having knocked off the trunnions of three pieces of ordnance, some new gun-carriages, a great number of carriage wheels burnt, a considerable quantity of flour, some gunpowder and musquet balls, with other small articles thrown into the river.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=uIRNAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA982 Infantry Journal, Volume 7], United States Infantry Association, 1910</ref></blockquote>
Because of these actions, the [[Continental Congress]] passed a resolution unanimously that urged sending supplies to Bostonians during the [[Siege of Boston]], praised the ''Suffolk Resolves'', and criticized Britain's "wicked ministerial measures."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=5bwrAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA74 The Birth of the Republic: Compiled from the National and Colonial Histories and Historical Collections, from the American Archives and from Memoirs, and from the Journals and Proceedings of the British Parliament]</ref> Likewise the Committee of Correspondence of Worcester noted that: "many places searched, where arms and ammunition were suspected to be; and if found, seized."<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=G6wTAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA645]</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==
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]].