A well regulated militia

The gun debate is raging once again after the kids were murdered in school. Wyoming lawmakers are flirting with legislation that could help seed another civil war like the secessionist fringe in so many states. Too bad that they're blind to the wisdom and open mindedness of Jonathan Haidt.

Take a good look at the second amendment and you'll see, "a well regulated militia". It seems to me that a well regulated miltia is profoundly absent in our country. It seems that we should work to rectify this unfortunate neglect.

A well regulated militia could provide the systems to ensure that responsible citizenry are provided the right to bear arms while criminals and mentally unstable people are denied access to weapons of mass murder. It's not rocket science, just common sense.

The war on terror misused the National Gaurd by using it as a reserve active duty force. That abuse has undermined the faith in the US military to conduct honorable service and contract.

A well regulated militia could provide any responsible citizen with military training. It could be free professional training for any citizen in good standing to learn proper firearm practices. This would be provided as a public service without any obligation for military duty. People could progress into more advanced traings such as the use of ordinance or heavy weaponized machinery. This would provide the country with a greater potential reserve force than present. 

This system could also help with the nation's obesity epidemic. The National Militia or American Militia could also provide a venue for physical training and martial arts.

Strict controls would be part of this system. Only citizens in good standing would be permitted to utilize these trainings, but all of society would gain. Responsible citizens would be more empowered while criminal elements would become hopelessly out-classed, out-manned and out-gunned.

A robust civic education program should compliment this new American institution along with psychological evaluation processes. Veterans could be utilized in these efforts and may be aided in the process of reintegrating into civil society which is grossly neglected by present systems.