I believe that support for domestic industry necessary to arm the people was always considered outside the question of protection, generally. The pursuit of small arms with standardized, interchangeable parts, was a major project for several of our early Administrations. What a contrast to the present, where we let Leftist lawsuits imperil the Domestic small arms industry.
Washington openly espoused the Swiss militia system, where teenaged boys are trained in the use of military grade small arms, in a society where every home is armed.