Reply #52: That is an /excellent/ question.

[gorfle]

I am a strong supporter of the right to keep and bear arms, and I have devoted much thought to exactly the question you propose:

What happens when the technology for infantry small arms advances beyond projectile weapons? Suppose, for example, some kind of "ray gun" becomes the next modern infantry small arm?

To my view, the intent of the second amendment was to insure that the people were armed with the same small arms as appropriate to contemporary infantry forces. This is because the writings of the founders indicate that the intent was clearly to have the people be able to replace, or at least counter, federal infantry forces. In order to do this they would need to be equipped with functionally similar small arms.

So in my opinion, should there be some advancement in small arms weaponry, it would be completely appropriate for these weapons to also be in the hands of the civilian population.