Yes, You Could Own a Cannon in 1791 — Here’s the Historical Proof

You’ve probably heard it smugly tossed out in debates like a mic drop: “The Founding Fathers didn’t mean you could own a cannon!”

Spoiler alert: yes, they did. And people actually did.

Let’s set the record straight before anyone pulls a hamstring trying to virtue signal. In the late 1700s — during the powdered-wig era of unfiltered freedom — private citizens could absolutely own cannons. Not toy replicas, not decorative antiques. Real, iron-hurling, hull-cracking, war-ready cannons.

Here’s what the history books actually say:

🔥 No Federal Ban on Cannons

In 1791, when the Second Amendment was ratified, there were zero federal laws saying, “Sorry, no cannons for you.” If you had the coin and the courage, you could park one in your yard and nobody would blink. No ATF. No red tape. Just black powder and freedom.

💰 Civilians Did Own Them

Wealthy landowners, merchants, and yes, even private militias owned and operated cannons. Some were even commissioned by the government to do so. They were called privateers, and they were essentially government-approved civilian warships. Not exactly the vibe of “we don’t trust you with big weapons,” right?

Learn more about privateers — straight from the U.S. National Archives.

📜 The Founders Knew What They Were Doing

The same men who wrote the Constitution had just fought a war using their own guns, cannons, and grit. They didn’t win independence with passive petitions. They used privately owned arms, including heavy artillery. So no, they weren’t panicking at the thought of a farmer owning something more powerful than a musket.

Want backup? George Washington himself supported privateering. Here’s Mount Vernon’s take on it.

---

So the next time someone confidently declares, “The Second Amendment wasn’t about owning cannons,” you can calmly (or not) let them know:
Yes, you could. People did.
And nobody tried to rewrite the rules mid-week.

If the idea of law-abiding citizens owning serious firepower rattles you — that’s fine. But take it up with history, not those of us who can read it.