What did the founding fathers mean exactly when they say that the united states should have a “well regulated militia”?
Answer No, it didn’t mean mandatory service. Federalist Paper #29 discusses the militia and should give you a good idea of what the Founding Fathers were thinking. Federalist Paper #29 from: The Federalist Papers: Modern English Edition Two copyright 2008 by Mary E Webster Number 29: Militia Not Threat to Liberty During an internal revolt or an invasion by a foreign nation, the militia helps keep peace and defends the Confederacy. National Control Leads to Uniformity 2 All members of the militia must have the same organization and discipline to get the best results. And uniformity requires national regulation of the militia. Therefore, the Constitution properly says that the Union will provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed
