On Sun, 02 Aug 2009 13:53:16 -0700, Darren New wrote:

> Jim Henderson wrote:
>> specifically and explicitly to that "well regulated militia".
> 
> Definition of militia:
> 
> 2) the entire body of physically fit civilians eligible by law for
> military service

That definition came around circa 1890, according to the OED.

A more telling definition is one that was in common usage when the bill 
of rights was created in 1789:

3. b. [...] a branch or department of the establishment maintained for 
purposes of war.

Or perhaps an earlier definition:

1. a. A system of military discipline, organization, and tactics; manner 
of conducting warfare; the arts of war.

In 1776, Adam Smith wrote:

"It [the state] may..oblige either all the citizens of the military age, 
or a certain number of them to join in some measure the trade of a 
soldier to whatever other trade or profession they may happen to carry 
on. Its military force is (then) said to consist in a militia."

While not a definition per se, the connotation here is that a militia is 
a military force made up of citizens who are part-time members of the 
military.

How many actual gun owners are members of, say, the national guard?  Less 
than 100% I'd wager.

Then there's the "well-regulated" part of that phrase in the bill of 
rights.  Someone who goes to the local gun shop and purchases a S&W .38 
handgun to go target shooting on the weekends (or for self defense) isn't 
part of a "well-regulated militia".  They're an individual citizen 
purchasing a handgun for personal reasons.

Jim

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