Final answer:
In 1792, a federal law mandated that eligible militia men own a gun and ammunition, being closely tied to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution which emphasizes the need for a well-regulated militia for the security of a free State.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 1792, federal law required eligible militiamen to own a gun and ammunition. This law was related to the concept of a well-regulated militia which is addressed in the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution stating, “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.” Before the Civil War, being part of the militia essentially meant that white males of military age were expected to be ready to serve in defense of the state and needed to have arms. Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is A. Own a gun and ammunition.
The idea that the Constitution guaranteed the right to bear arms is rooted in the belief that armed citizens are crucial for the defense of a free state. This constitutional right predates the federal and state constitutions and was inherited from English common law. Although the amendment mentions a well-regulated militia, the prevailing interpretation at that time was that all able-bodied men should possess arms, with minimal gun control measures focusing primarily on preventing slaves and their abolitionist allies from accessing firearms.