but that isn't what regulate meant in regard to militaries of the day. It meant well drilled/disciplined. Hence the British Regulars. The British Regulars were a well regulated group of paid soldiers. We wanted a well regulated nation. At the time, the country was having problems do to the articles of confederation and there were rumors a King would be installed. The bill of rights were the first 10 because they wanted to assure the nation they would not face tyranny again. Remember, it was British Regulars who were marching to confiscate the firearms of Mass Militia. That was the tyranny. Any sort of implication of regulating arms(like you mean) would have been laughed out of the room. In post revolutionary US there were so many cannons around they were left just sitting by the road.