I absolutely disagree with the view expressed by Chance Bartlett in, “Everyone gets a musket or a flintlock pistol” (letter, March 9).

The Second Amendment reads: “A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.” There is no mention here of either musket or flintlock.

The Second Amendment was never intended to severely limit the citizens, but the government while empowering the citizens.

The Founding Fathers, having just fought the Revolutionary War, were well aware of the firearms they used in that effort.

With Ben Franklin being a scientist, the Founders of course had been aware of the scientific development of firearms from the smoothbore blunderbuss to the rifled barrel Kentucky long rifle.

The Founding Fathers were every bit as much aware as we in the 21st century that science would continue developing and improving arms. They would have had no intention of limiting civilian weapons to muskets, but would have meant the Second Amendment to include whatever weapons the government had so the citizenry could defend itself against the government should it turn on its citizens.

To believe modern firearms are not covered by the Second Amendment is at best naive and at worse dangerously foolhardy.

Dave Ricker

Wiscasset