[Fraxinus]

When the second amendment was written, who were "the people" they were referring to in the second amendment?

To use the language of the Constitution:
The citizens of the various states.

Basically in 1780 this included most white adults, some blacks (most blacks were considered property, not citizens), and older children (12-13+), but excluded indians, unsupervised children, and others considered a threat to public safety.

[robertpaulsen]

The second amendment was referring to "the people at large" -- those who were expected to take up arms to "execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions." This would exclude non-whites, women, children, the infirm, non-citizens, Indians, and prisoners.

Perhaps states protected the individual rights of others to own firearms. But the second amendment did not.

[tpaine]

To use the language of the Constitution: -- ["the people" referred to in the second amendment were] --
The citizens of the various states.

Don't forget the citizens of the USA residing in territories of the USA.

Basically in 1780 this included most white adults, some blacks (most blacks were considered property, not citizens), and older children (12-13+), but excluded indians, unsupervised children, and others considered a threat to public safety.

Good, detailed answer; -- is this cited somewhere in our founding documents? -- I've never seen quite that list before.

Naturally, the real reason this is even of any interest is ~why~ such a list would exclude some people from constitutional protection of an inalienable right.
-- Majority rule type gun-grabbers claim that the mere fact that there ~are~ exclusions prove that our right to own & carry arms is ~alienable~ & infringeable, -- by the 'will of the people'.

Weird people, socialists..