There is also the issue of “organized militia” and
the unorganized militia. The unorganized militia consists of all able-bodied men (now probably women too) who can bear arms.
The concept of the militia goes back as least as far as the Anglo-Saxon fyrd - all able-men capable of bearing arms who were subject to call up by the Anglo-Saxon Kings in case of war or invasion. Their first line of defense was the Housecarls or personal retainers, followed by their theigns and earls with THEIR personal retainers and then by the local fyrd.
Liberals and anti-gunners in general either know nothing about our genesis as a people or choose to ignore the facts with which they disagree.
The current definition of “Militia” can be found in Title 10, section 311. It only includes women if they are in the National Guard, but includes men from 17 to 45, and to age 65 if they have prior service as an officer (I think that would include noncommissioned and warrant officers as well as comissioned officers).
I don’t recall if women who have served as an officer are still eligble to age 65, but it would make sense of they were. Again, I would prefer to add all women, and not just women who are in the National Guard.
I think the Militia act of 1792 can also be found so that you can refer to the original intent of what the Militia meant at the time that the Constitution was adopted.