Speech of Patrick Henry, June 14, 1788, Virginia's Debates on The United States ConstitutionThe great object is, that every man be armed. But can the people afford to pay for double sets of arms, &c.? Every one Who is able may have a gun. But we have learned, by experience, that, necessary as it is to have arms, and though our Assembly has, by a succession of laws for many years, endeavored to have the militia completely armed, it is still far from being the case.
"Arms" would seem to equate to "guns" in this speech that occurred during Virginia's convention to ratify the Constitution and Bill of Rights.