Reply #7: For anyone doing any reading on the subject it is very clear (of course antis don't like history)

[Statistical]

Who are the militia? Are they not ourselves? Is it feared, then, that we shall turn our arms each man against his own bosom. Congress have no power to disarm the militia. Their swords, and every other terrible implement of the soldier, are the birthright of an American. The unlimited power of the sword is not in the hands of either the federal or state governments, but, where I trust in God it will ever remain, in the hands of the people. --- Tenche Coxe, The Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb. 20, 1788.

Whereas, to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them;nor does it follow from this, that all promiscuously must go into actual service on every occasion. The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle; and when we see many men disposed to practice upon it, whenever they can prevail, no wonder true republicans are for carefully guarding against it. --- Richard Henry Lee, The Pennsylvania Gazette, Feb. 20, 1788.

O sir, we should have fine times, indeed, if, to punish tyrants, it were only sufficient to assemble the people! Your arms, wherewith you could defend yourselves, are gone...Did you ever read of any revolution in a nation...inflicted by those who had no power at all? --- John Henry, Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788

(John Henry was responding somewhat snarkily to another delegate who voiced the idea that as long as their were armories individual citizens didn't need protection to keep arms)

When the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man, who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them; but that they should not do it openly, but weaken them, and let them sink gradually. I ask, who are the militia? They consist of now of the whole people... --- George Mason, Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788


All we have are words. Words in public records. Words in newspapers. Words in speeches. Those words however pain a picture for us of the prevailing beliefs at the time of ratification. They provide insight to the meaning of the 2nd. The militia consisted of all freeman.