The Real Definition of 'Well
Regulated' in the 2nd Amendment

A Contrived Misunderstanding

Over the years, there have been a lot of arguments over what "Well Regulated" in the Second Amendment means. Despite only making up a 27-word sentence, the entire amendment has its semantics questioned for a multitude of reasons, whether that be the meaning of "right of the people to keep and bear Arms", "shall not be infringed", or "A well-regulated Militia". Today, I will focus on the latter, intending to dispel misunderstandings about these four simple words, while using historical examples to help with comparison.

What "regulated" meant back then is NOT the same as what an anti-gun bureaucrat thinks of when they hear that word. It is pretty plain and simple, actually. Rather than meaning "regulation" in the sense that some might think, i.e, government red tape, it means well-organized, armed, and disciplined. A "well-regulated clock" accurately keeps time if properly maintained. Those traits are integral to maintaining a fighting force, regardless of the period. This means that the militia was not undergoing constant government-regulated bureaucracy, but instead was constantly prepared to serve its purpose. . . . .