befuddled founding father

"well-regulated militia"

The "Well-regulated militia" was for a country that wasn't supposed to have a "standing army". The idea was that everyone was well-armed and well-trained so that the Federal Government could call anyone up to defend the country if needed. Wars were never to be longer than 2 years. There is ample evidence that the Founders intended that all citizens be armed not just against criminals and/or invaders, but also in case they needed to defend themselves against a tyrannical government.

But we do have a standing army.

Yes, we do. And, the reason the Founders didn't want one is because they didn't want the U.S. to become the new British Empire and cause problems for the world. But just because the U.S. became the opposite of what the Founders intended doesn't change the U.S. Constitution.

The founders wanted a well armed unregulated populace?

"To disarm the people...[i]s the most effectual way to enslave them."
- George Mason
"Before a standing army can rule, the people must be disarmed, as they are in almost every country in Europe. The supreme power in America cannot enforce unjust laws by the sword; because the whole body of the people are armed, and constitute a force superior to any band of regular troops."
- Noah Webster,

No one said disarm.

I assumed we were talking about private ownership vs. National Guard (or "regulated" State Militias). The Founders did mean that individual citizens should be armed.
"To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them."
- Richard Henry Lee, Federal Farmer No. 18, January 25, 1788

"The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms."
- Samuel Adams, Massachusetts Ratifying Convention, 1788

"and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them"

Like...."we'll regulated"....ok....all for it.

"Well regulated" to the point we don't have mass shootings would be nice.

Or at least a goal.

"Well regulated" in the late 1700's meant "well supplied" or "well organized." Word meanings have changed, but the intent has not.

What does militia mean? For just two examples:

I ask, sir, what is the militia? It is the whole people, except for a few public officials. - George Mason?

The militia are in fact the people themselves...and include all men capable of bearing arms. - Richard Henry Lee?

The Second Amendment reads:

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Everything before the comma is an explanation for everything after the comma: "A well regulated militia" is not a legal requirement on its own, but the justification for ensuring that the people are armed. This is simple grammar, and frankly, if the issue weren't so politicized, obvious.

As long as the U.S. as a nation continues its violence upon the world we're going to have individuals who do the same. But, considering the amount of guns in private hands in the U.S., we don't rank the highest in gun murders. Jamaica, El Salvador, and Venezuela have a much higher gun murder rate and they have very strong gun control. Our citizens have more guns than any other country in the world but rank 24 in gun murders (pretty much average for countries who outlaw drugs). Ending the Drug War (and, thus, gang wars) would reduce our gun murder rate a lot.

Fail.

"The Constitution shall never be construed to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms." - Samuel Adams, Massachusetts Ratifying Convention, 1788