[rjsimmons]

Quote The ships were property. It wasn't the SHIP the US FedGov gave permission to, but the ships owner and crew. You are going through quite a few contortions of meaning here. Intentional or not.

Definitely wasn't my itention. What I was trying to distinguish is the intent of the 2A and how privateers were utilized. Quite a stretch from the original thread, but a good line of conversation anyways.

[Dead Corpse]

Privateers were utilized as sea-going malitia. The Letters of M&R were nothing more than authorizing them to use "piracy" against pirates, the British Fleet, or any other enemies we faced before putting together a formidable Navy.

This would be pretty much the same thing as the FedGov hiring bounty hunters to go after Osama.

Pretty much, although different in mission, to temporarily deputizing civilians to help with a county law enforcement effort.