“How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments of every hostile nation?”

Essential principles of a free government at natural law are peace, commerce, and honest friendship with all nations, entangling alliances with none.

" Unless we could prohibit, in like manner ". Which we can not. Therefore the armed citizenry is the only logical choice. " As we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends. " Declaration of Independence.

Ron has it correct. There will always be a need to be ready to defend oneself, either individually or collectively. In America, the citizen is also a soldier, and should be trained in the use of arms and have military grade weapons in every home (like the Swiss). rather than making war around the world as a 'defensive' measure, we could focus our energies on production rather than destruction and theft.