BLUF: Robert Leider argues for the reemphasis of nonprofessional citizen militia in his paper, “The Modern Militia,” as it can ease tensions between professional military and the civilian world, and help the federal government during an inevitable fiscal crisis, highlighting the differences between standing armies and militias and the fears of the Framers regarding regular forces usurping the authority of the popularly elected government.
The article discusses the meaning of the Second Amendment and the phrase “well-regulated militia,” and whether a well-regulated militia is needed today as it was during the American Revolution when all colonies except Pennsylvania required able-bodied men to be part of a local militia. Leider argues in the affirmative for the reemphasis of nonprofessional citizen militia to ease tensions and help the government during a fiscal crisis. He notes the differences between standing armies and militias and the fears of the Framers regarding regular forces usurping the authority of the popularly elected government.