It was widely understood prior to the 20th century that the right applied to the people. Here is a long thread with dozens of sources https://threadreaderapp.co

It was widely understood prior to the 20th century that the right applied to the people. Here is a long thread with dozens of sources https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1645290263299117056.html https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1645290263299117056.html. Overwhelming they all agree that military weapons are most protected of all. > Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. Understanding "the people" here to mean the government is absurd. The government doesn't need to petition itself for redress. Moreover, they could have used the word `government` instead. The Bill of Rights was added because the anti-federalist were worried that the constitution didn't protect individual liberty enough.