[coloradan]

they'd be more open for the banning of handguns (as they are more useful in crime than in warfare) than for any restrictions on rifles, machine guns, or heavier items. Just my take, anyway.

The same thing that makes them useful to criminals makes them useful for little old ladies protecting themselves against criminals as well: They are small, easy to operate, and powerful enough to do the job. Self-defense is important as well, and I think the framers understood that.

[Steel Wolf]

The same thing that makes them useful to criminals makes them useful for little old ladies protecting themselves against criminals as well:

That's a good point too, and I don't deny the logic there. We live in a very different world than they did, and things like that probably weren't on their radar.