What does a "well-regulated" militia mean?

[baldeagle]

Well-Regulated
Context matters.

[Keith B]

The 2007 the Supreme Court ruled and stated it simply and succinctly.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit (2007):

The Amendment does not protect “the right of militiamen to keep and bear arms,” but rather “the right of the people.” The operative clause, properly read, protects the ownership and use of weaponry beyond that needed to preserve the state militias.

http://www.factcheck.org/2007/12/suprem ... d-militia/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[rbwhatever1]

Both posts are absolutely correct regardless of what some "dissenting" Supreme Court Justices believed on a few opinions.

[mojo84]

Well-Regulated
Context matters.

We the People

[MeMelYup]

In the 1700's Militia ment all able bodied free men from the age of majority (approximately 17 or 18) to the age of about 50 were automatically in the militia unless they were physically unable or a conscientious objector. By adopting the 13th and 14th Amendments "The Militia" became all able bodied men and women who are citizens and are not conscientious objectors.

[android]

Seems to me that IF SCOTUS had ruled stupidly that the state of Texas could create a state militia that consisted of every adult that is not a prohibited person. Any proof of Texas residency would be all you need to show membership.

[TEX]

Can't remember just now where I read it, but from what I remember "well regulated" back in colonial days basically meant "well equipped" or "well trained". It had nothing to do with controlling or supervising. It is only a modern view of regulating which came into being during the industrial revolution which comes to people minds in this time - and that does mean to control or have control of.

My view on it was that the founding fathers knew a militia wasn't worth much if they didn't have the proper tools to fight with and/or didn’t know how to use the equipment. They felt they should be "well regulated" = "well equipped and trained"

[GeoffB]

Here's a link from gunsite.com that breaks it down pretty good.

http://www.guncite.com/gc2ndmea.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;