<P> The fifth and last auxiliary right of the subject, that I shall at present mention, is that of having arms for their defence, suitable to their condition and degree, and such as are allowed by law . Which is also declared by the same statute I W. & M. st. 2 . c. 2 . and is indeed a public allowance, under due restrictions, of the natural right of resistance and self - preservation, when the sanctions of society and laws are found insufficient to restrain the violence of oppression . </P> <P> Formerly, this same British common law applied to the UK and Australia, and until 1791 to the colonies in North America that became the United States . The right to keep and bear arms had originated in England during the reign of Henry II with the 1181 Assize of Arms, and developed as part of common law . </P> <P> After the Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745, harsh laws providing, amongst other things, for disarming the Highlands of Scotland, were enacted by the Parliament of Great Britain: the Disarming Acts of 1716 and 1725, and the Act of Proscription 1746 . </P> <P> The first British firearm controls were introduced as part of the Vagrancy Act 1824, which was set up in a reaction against the large number of people roaming the country with weapons brought back from the Napoleonic wars . It allowed the police to arrest "any person with any gun, pistol, hanger (dagger), cutlass, bludgeon or other offensive weapon...with intent to commit a felonious act". It was followed by the Night Poaching Act 1828 and Night Poaching Act 1844, the Game Act 1831, and the Poaching Prevention Act 1862, which made it an offence to shoot game illegally by using a firearm . </P>

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