[Who dat?]

I don't think the "foundering fathers" had AK-47 or automatic weapons on their minds when they gave American citizens the right to bare arms or when you quoted these individuals to sale your book.

That's true, but then again, assuming you could afford them, every "military" weapon available was available to the general public. Cannons, for instance. I've seen old pictures and drawings of private residences with cannons in the yard, among other things.

[archy]

That's true, but then again, assuming you could afford them, every "military" weapon available was available to the general public. Cannons, for instance. I've seen old pictures and drawings of private residences with cannons in the yard, among other things. Henry Knox, the father of the American Artilery Corps, was a bookseller who learned all he could about the Artillerist's science of the day, picked the brains of knowledgable British officers, and obtained a few smoothbore cannon for his further education and use. And when Washington desperately needed a knowledgable artillery commander, the right man for the job stepped in to fill the bill.

Today's equivalent of Knox's light cannon would be mortars, light recoilless rifles up to and including those mounted on vehicles [*wagon guns* and *swivel cannons* in Knox's day] and, possibly, the new M8 AGS self-proppelled antitank gun sustem, previously known as the *Buford* and now perhaps as the *Thunderbolt.*

Knox would no doubt impressed, but not overawed, and would politely request a look at the manuals and a hands on demonstration. Those who carry on in his footsteps would do well to celebrate his July 25th birthday with appropriate test firings and public demonstrations, followed by libations in his honor after the sun goes down on that day.