>>> Given all their lofty ideals it's hard for me to believe the founders envisioned an entire society running around armed to the teeth.
>
>Actually, in the American of the 18th century it would have been hard for the Founders to imagine a society where everyone was *not* armed. Militia was a gathering of *armed* citizens - their own guns.

You're right, of course. I wasn't thinking too well to add that extra sentence. I still think they put the word "militia" in there for a reason.