[DBrow]

I looked in old books and asked people at historical museums what "regulated" meant, and was shown examples.

A guy at a clock museum showed me the use as related to clocks.

Some reenactors showed me old manuals discussing "regulation of rifles".

A museum in Concord, Mass. had more examples of the use of the phrase.

I made no comment about the organization of militias, only the meaning of the phrase "well regulated" as having a different meaning than is commonly used today. When comparing historical periods you have to take meaning shifts into account. I did not mention "self-appointed clowns" at all, do not put words in my mouth please, I will not shut up and take that.

Like "slut" used to mean "lazy housewife", rather than the more skeevy definition of today.

[justshutupandtakeit]

That is NOT the meaning wrt a militia. Such a militia was well trained and well officered THAT is the regulation spoken of in the Second.

The appropriate meaning in this context is " A governmental order having the force of law." Or "A principle, rule, or law designed to control or govern behavior."

Our founders did not want a bunch of Clowns claiming to be militia doing whatever the hell they wanted and claimed the power to do so. It had to be regulated.

BTW "slut" meant "dirty, slovenly woman."