Well regulated means “in good working order” like a well-maintained machine. A militia that is well regulated has to be well trained and well equipped. Modern threats include random violence so carrying is necessary. It include riots so semi-auto with high capacity is required.
What would happen today if communities decided to follow Madison's words and try to organize "militia" practice weekends every 6 to 12 months, just to see how well-regulated they could become?
I've seen communities organize citizen emergency response teams to aid the fire department in locating fires and injuries after earthquakes or storms. Why not revive the regulation of citizen militias, too?
This effort could get its legitimacy through state national guards. If some red states tried to have a militia boot camp at a reserve base, people could bring their own arms (just like in Madison's times), where they would demonstrate their skill in using those arms and would then learn basic group organization and tactics to make use of those arms.
I suggest legitimacy through state national guards because the obvious challenge from the Left would be that these groups are right-wing extremists or KKK wannabes. If groups were to self-organize at local gun clubs or leased farmland, they could easily be labeled by the Left a paramilitary hate groups.
Thoughts?
-PJ