And no other rifle would work?
Not the point. Well regulated militia are weapons qualified on the weapons they keep and bear.
We have a Second Amendment and should have no security problems in our free States in modern times.
That isn’t the thread. The thread is that we must have an AR-15.
Well regulated militia could be issued the Arms they may require when they muster at the armory.
To the militiamobile!
First. You are using the terms wrong. In fact. All of them.
The Militia was defined by the First Congress to be all able bodied free men. Today we would modify that to all able bodied people. But the point remains.
The Militia of the era was called up by levy. A runner would appear in town and say that ten percent of the men needed to head to a point to assemble. If not enough volunteers were found some would be picked and pressed into service.
These men were expected to provide their own rifles. The weapons of the era were sold with a mold to make a lead ball of the proper size for that rifle. The military would provide powder and lead and flint.
The term Well Regulated was defined too. In order to insure that this wasn’t a mob the Militia was required by act of Congress to accept military type orders and discipline. That was the meaning of well regulated.
Notice. There was no prohibition against someone who had been convicted of a crime. Former criminals were able to buy weapons like anyone else. The idea that weapons should not be available to people convicted of crimes in the past is a modern idea that was an anathema to our Forefathers.
Some States and towns had training after Divine Worship on Sunday. During this training the Militiamen would conduct drill and ceremony in order to get them accustomed to instantly obeying orders.
Now. Who could activate the Militia? Not just anyone. The Governor was in charge. And officers that Militia Members had to obey were appointed by the Governor. To use the vernacular of the era. They were commissioned. A piece of paper signed by the Governor or a superior officer with authority was the authority of this officer.
Doctors got Warrants. They were Warrant Officers. Outside of the Chain of Command but entitled to Officer type treatment.
Now. Let’s say you live in a Blue State with a Democratic Governor. That means if you form a Militia you would have to accept orders from that Democratic Governor and obey the orders of officers he appoints.
Any Questions?