Plain didn’t take any one’s private weapons, she simply decided that her State Defense Forces would not bear arms while on State Active Duty. It might come as a surprise to the moron who wrote this bravo sierra, but the vast majority of members of the United States Armed Forces are not issued personal weapons. Until I read something different, written by someone with a clue, I’ll assume that Palin was acting properly to assure that her State Defence Forces were a valuable tool of her Adjutant General’s Department, and not just a bunch of lunk heads running around the woods in XXL ACUs.
You are quite right! As a Marine I never had a weapon issued to me after Boot Camp and ITR. Not until we were told we were going to Danang, Viet Nam and marched to the armory were we issued a M16, Helmet and two 20 round Magazines. I had to return everything I was issued when I left Viet Nam. Never saw a rifle again until I needed to qualify at the range.