Weren't all men 16 and older required to own a gun leading up to the Revolutionary war? I think they deemed it "in the interest of public safety".
Dori,
I don't have any information about mandatory firearm ownership during the Colonial period, but the Militia Act of 1792 required every able-bodied man between the ages of 18 and 45 to:
"
provide himself with a good musket or firelock, a sufficient bayonet and belt, two spare flints, and a knapsack, a pouch, with a box therein, to contain not less than twenty four cartridges, suited to the bore of his musket or firelock, each cartridge to contain a proper quantity of powder and ball;
or with a good rifle, knapsack, shot-pouch, and powder-horn, twenty balls suited to the bore of his rifle, and a quarter of a pound of powder; and shall appear so armed, accoutred and provided, when called out to exercise or into service".
(Paragraph 1, emphasis added)