If the bill of rights did not contain a right to carry arms?

Not a whole lot, as prior to the 1960s, gun control was a state-level issue.

(Many state constitutions included the right to bear arms and state-level gun control existed, primarily to keep black people or Italians unarmed.)
 

Sachyriel

Banned
Well if people didn't feel the need to constantly train with weaponry I'm guessing the British would have had an easier time taking more of N. America since the USA-ians would have more losses to dangerous wildlife, Indigenous people, other nations settlers when they fought, and eventually I'd think Mexico would be bigger and Canada might have Washington state.
 
Well if people didn't feel the need to constantly train with weaponry I'm guessing the British would have had an easier time taking more of N. America since the USA-ians would have more losses to dangerous wildlife, Indigenous people, other nations settlers when they fought, and eventually I'd think Mexico would be bigger and Canada might have Washington state.

A disarmed colonial populace (which would not work at all, given the on-the-ground realities at the time) would be before the POD.
 
Probably the provision wouldn't be inserted if there wasn't a need for it seen: maybe the British attempts to disarm US proved ineffective?

In that case, I imagine that little would be changed at first. Plenty of people would have a legitimate need for a gun, and the government would have no reason to take them away.

Later on, I imagine gun control being somewhat more popular.
 
Probably simular to Britain nowadays, up til about 1920 our gun control was non existant and seen as not needed but gradually increased after that, with most guns banned after Hungerford and Dunblaine (though the events of the last couple of months prove our controls aren't that effective).

Sad to say of course while it might get guns out of ordinary peoples hands, you'll still have criminals with guns, they manage to sneak them into Britain (or just make them here) and America is alot easier to smuggle into with those massive borders.
 
Hmmm. I imagine the loons would find something else to rant about.

In terms of a pivotal civil right? Most any or all the other enumerated rights have been far more important and subject to far more judicial and political controversy.
 
Oh Canada.

England is a good model. Canada is another. It is part of North America. There are fewer guns in circulation and fewer crimes with guns. On the other hand constables are called out to break up fights from time to time.
 
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