Reply #3: Of course that's what it means. An "effective militia" is necessary, because the recourse is a [View All]

[jmg257]

standing army. That was the whole reason for giving Congress the power to provide guidelines (A1,S8,C16) for how the people will arm themselves for duty in the Militias of the several States, for how those militias would be organized, and how they will be trained/disciplined - standards help effectivness; and with the 2nd there is a mandatory order of it getting done (well functioning militias are "necessary").

The states had been neglecting their militias under the Articles, and since the role of the militias was VITAL to the constitution and our freedoms (A1,S8,C15) - they MUST BE effective. As Hamilton pointed out BEFORE the 2nd was written/ratified - "Well regulated" is "well armed and well trained". Otherwise there would be a greater need for a large standing army - that bane of liberty.

These days, even with the usurption that is the National Guard, we the people must still be sufficiently armed, and familiar with our arms (CMP, etc.) because we are still part of the Militia (of the United States). Of course separate from our militia role we also have the unalienable right to self-defense - and so are allowed the means to enjoy that right.