[Aguila Blanca]

Originally Posted by K_Mac

BlueTrain you may be right in your definition of "Militia" in regard to the what the FF had in mind when they wrote the 2A, but I do not believe an organized, standing army of 'civilians' or professionals, whether commanded by the State or the Feds was the goal.

Certainly not a standing army, since the Founders had a deep distrust of standing armies and stated extensively in their writings that they did not want a powerful standing army. Which is why their intent was for the militia to be sufficiently powerful to stand up to and defeat any standing army.

Originally Posted by Tench Coxe

Whereas civil rulers, not having their duty to the people duly before them, may attempt to tyrannize, and as military forces, which must be occasionally raised to defend our country, might pervert their power to the injury of their fellow citizens, the people are confirmed by the article in their right to keep and bear their private arms.

Originally Posted by Tench Coxe

The militia of these free commonwealths, entitled and accustomed to their arms, when compared with any possible army, must be tremendous and irresistible. Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom. Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birth-right of an American ... the unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people.

And, finally,

Originally Posted by Tench Coxe

The militia, who are in fact the effective part of the people at large, will render many troops quite unnecessary. They will form a powerful check upon the regular troops, and will generally be sufficient to over-awe them

Does that answer the question of whether the Founders wanted the militia to armed as well as (or better than) the army? This IS what the 2nd Amendment is all about.