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"Disarming Papists"
While researching, Clayton Cramer made a find. After the Glorious Revolution, the British Parliament passed an act to disarm papists (Roman Catholics, for you modern sorts), although I think Joyce Malcolm found that they had an exception for arms necessary for self-defense.
Clayton was trying to find any evidence that this had been carried out in the American colonies, and the only record he found was a Maryland enactment a few years later that ordered anyone who had seized arms from a papist to turn them in so they could be restored to their owners.
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I bet there is information out there. In April 1746 the Royal Governor of Virginia issued this proclamation. “ Whereas, it has been represented to me, in Council, that several Roman Catholic Priests are lately come from Maryland to Fairfax county, in this Colony, and are endeavoring, by crafty Insinuations, to seduce his Majesty’s good Subjects from their Fidelity and Loyalty to his majesty King George, and his Royal House: I have therefore thought fit, with the advice of his Majesty’s Council, to issue this my Proclamation, requiring all Magistrates, Sheriffs, Constables and other His Majesty’s Liege People, within this Colony, to be diligent in apprehending and bringing to Justice, the said Roman Priests, or any of them, so that they may be prosecuted according to law.
The Colony of Virginia formally disarmed papists in 1756 under, An Act for disarming Papists, and reputed Papists, refusing to take the oaths to the government.
"I. WHEREAS it is dangerous at this time to permit Papists to be armed. Be it enacted, by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council, and Burgesses, of this present General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted, by the authority of the same, That it shall, and may be lawful, for any two or more justices of the peace, who shall know, or suspect any person to be a Papist, or shall be informed that any person is, or is suspected to be a papist, to tender, and they are hereby authorised and required to tender to such person so known, or suspected to be a Papist, the oaths appointed by act of parliament to be taken instead of the oaths of allegiance and supremacy; and if such person, so required, shall refuse to take the said oaths, and subscribe the test, or shall refuse, or forbear to appear before the said justices for the taking the said oaths, and subscribing the said test, upon notice to him given, or left at his usual place of abode, by any person authorised in that behalf, by warrant under the hands and seals of the said two justices, such person from thenceforth shall be taken to be, and is hereby declared to be liable and subject to all and every the penalties, forfeitures, and disabilities hereafter in this act mentioned....
III. And for the better securing the lives and properties of his majesty’s faithful subjects. Be it further enacted and declared, That no Papist, or reputed Papist so refusing, or making default as aforesaid, shall, or may have, or keep in his house or elsewhere, or in the possession of any other person to his use, or at his disposition, any arms, weapons, gunpowder or ammunition, (other than such necessary weapons as shall be allowed to him, by order of the justices of the peace at their court, for the defence of his house or person) and that any two or more justices of the peace, from time to time, by warrant under their hands and seals, may authorise and impower any person or persons in the day-time, with the assistance of the constables where the search shall be (who is hereby required to be aiding and assisting herein) to search for all arms, weapons, gunpowder or ammunition, which shall be in the house, custody, or possession of any such Papist, or reputed Papist, and seize the same for the use of his majesty and his successors; which said justices of the peace shall from time to time, at the next court to be held for the county, where such seizure shall be made, deliver the said arms, weapons, gunpowder and ammunition, in open court, for the use aforesaid."
I initially read it as Rapist. If you were a member of a disfavored religion like a Bible believing Christian under our current Secular Humanist order, the Constitution protects your rights. Isn't that a relief! (?)