One of the biggest sticking points in the interpretation of the Second Amendment, is the Supreme Courts Idea of what the word state and militia mean. when looking for this answer you need to get away from rulings that have to do with the Second Amendment. if you start by reading Supreme Court ruling over the time of it's conception. The word state has up until recent times meant The United States. A state is a collection of people that have a central, and independent government. This is the reason the term; a Palestinian state, state department, and secretary of state Hillery Clinton, are used. They don't say the country of Palestine, or the country department, or the secretary of country, because the word state means United States government. The Supreme Court knows this to be fact. They have used this in rulings in the past. hear is one such ruling that I think will help you understand.
Supreme Court said in Butler v. Perry:
The amendment was adopted with reference to conditions existing since the foundation of our government, and the term 'involuntary servitude' was intended to cover those forms of compulsory labor akin to African slavery which, in practical operation, would tend to produce like undesirable results. It introduced no novel doctrine with respect of services always treated as exceptional, and certainly was not intended to interdict enforcement of those duties which individuals owe to the state, such as services in the army, militia, on the jury, etc.
This was a ruling by The Supreme Court, and it very specifically points out the duties that a citizen owes the state, and actually says Militia.
There is one other Argument I would like to raise. A well regulated militia what is this. it seems it would be the collection of names of men that can be called upon to defend the country in time of conflict. The Second Amendment was created for just this case, and so was the Selective Service. The Selective Service requires all men to register within 30 days of their 18th birthday. To join the United States militia. A pool of names; of able bodied citizens, that can be called upon, in time of conflict, to defend the country. Sounds to me like a militia to me.
The above ruling of Butler v. Perry. The argument was made. that the Registration for the draft was the same as slavery. In the ruling The Supreme Court points out very vividly what is meant by state and militia
What I am trying to say is. If you are registered for Selective Service. You are part of the well regulated militia.
