What is the meaning, exactly, of "well regulated", as in the phrase "well regulated militia"? I always thought that the word "regulated" meant "supervised", or "controlled". If so, the 2nd Amendment would actually be an argument FOR gun control.

However, a gun worshipper recently wrote a letter to our local newspaper in which he argued that, in the context of the 2nd Amendment, the word "regulated" means "managed", as in a "well-managed business".

The OED seems to support my interpretation.

Anyone with any insights on this matter?

Actually, if you look it up, you will find that regulated means something is governed or directed according to rules or laws. A well-regulated militia follows prescribed rules (not necessarily rules considered legal, but rules nonetheless.)

I must plead ignorance as to the contents of 2nd amendment, and who the OED is (are?) as I am from Cda and am only vaguely aware of what you are talking about.

If you look through back-copies of threads you will find many good links to on-line dictionaries. You will no longer be at a loss for the definition of words.

>who the OED is...

the Oxford English Dictionary is the ne plus ultra of English dictionaries, although it does have a certain British cant... 8-)

...as to the question, here is more than you could possibly want to know on the subject -- but the point being that you really need to know all the history to know what the founding fathers had in mind by using the words "well regulated militia":

http://home.pacbell.net/dragon13/senaterpt.html

as with many things in the constitution, people try to apply today's English and context to twist things; not dissimilar to the eisegesis which goes on with the Bible. context, context, context...