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"Well-regulated"
Jon Roland's site has posted an interesting discussion of the meaning of "well-regulated." The cites from the Oxford English Dictionary span 1709 - 1894, and suggest "well-regulated" meant something close to "in proper working order."
(I think I've seen a 17th century usages in connection with troops, something about a city being lost to the enemy for want of a body of well-regulated troops in the area, implying that those in the region were ill-disciplined or disorganized). The use of an adjective with "militia" goes back at least to 1625, when Charles I announced he was striving for an "exact militia." To the extent that "militia" meant every man able to bear arms, just having a militia was meaningless ... every nation would have one of those, and "having people of military age is necessary to the security of a free state" might be true but rather obvious.
Comments
I wonder if the term "well regulated" had to do with the weapons of the time. With the advent of digital watches, we have lost fact of the ticking of the well regulated clock. Flintlock rifles and muskets had a multi step method for charging the weapon. It was expected that a qualified gunner should be able to load and fire his musket three times a minute. Like clockwork. Those who could not were not qualified to be in the militia.
Best regards
Posted by: Joe Towler at July 28, 2006 09:58 AM
I wonder if the term "well regulated" had to do with the weapons of the time. With the advent of digital watches, we have lost sight of the ticking of the "well regulated" clock. Flintlock rifles and muskets had a multi step method for charging the weapon. It was expected that a qualified gunner whould be able to load and fire his musket three times a minute. Like clockwork. Those who could not were not qualified to be in the militia.
Best regards
Posted by: Joe Towler at July 28, 2006 10:00 AM
Though we're not loading flintlock muskets, it still takes training to operate a firearm proficently be it handgun or rifle. Sure a 15 year old kid from east LA can point and shoot, but it takes training and practice to be considered a well regulated militia.
Posted by: Daniel at July 28, 2006 12:14 PM