Why did proposals to arm all English householders with muskets fail in the late 1600s?

Proposals in the late 17th century to arm English householders with muskets—such as those suggested during the 1689 convention or in 1693—failed because they were viewed as a threat to the stability of the state. Specifically, officials feared that such measures would effectively "arm the mob," which was considered dangerous for any government.1

In England, the control of arms was historically tied to socioeconomic status and managed by Parliament and the Crown to ensure weapons were used for the common defense rather than by potentially volatile segments of the population. Even when militia reforms were eventually adopted in the mid-18th century, the government maintained strict control by ensuring that arms were kept by local officials and only distributed during times of training or muster, a practice that had been established as early as the 1550s.1