Well duh. It consists of an armed citizenry, exactly what you state above as being “futile and injurious”.
Your asinine attempt at saying that there can be a “well regulated militia” without there being an “armed citizenry” shows at face that you do not have any serious understanding or consistency of understanding of the second amendment.
Before 1792, there was no militia act, but there were well regulated militias. Since the second amendment was written before the 1792 Militia act, it is apparent that the Founders understood that there did not have to be government oversight in order for militias to be “well regulated”.
The 1200 men of the Massachusetts 4th Division under Shepard were a militia. Since that was five years before the Militia Act of 1792, how in the world could they have been “well regulated”?
If there existed an armed citizenry, then it would be pointless for the Militia Act to tell members they had 6 months to acquire a weapon. You're trying to play some "what came first -- the chicken or the egg" game, and I'm not interested.
"Before 1792, there was no militia act, but there were well regulated militias."
Yep. And their right to keep and bear arms was protected from federal infringement by the second amendment. What's your point?
"it is apparent that the Founders understood that there did not have to be government oversight in order for militias to be “well regulated”."
Just the opposite. The U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 8, stated that Congress had the power to organize, arm, and discipline the Militia. It also stated that Militia officers were to be appointed by each state.
"The 1200 men of the Massachusetts 4th Division under Shepard were a militia. Since that was five years before the Militia Act of 1792, how in the world could they have been “well regulated”?
If they were organized, armed, accoutered, and trained, with officers appointed by the state, they were "well regulated".
Because a number of state Militia weren't well regulated, Congress passed the Militia Act of 1792 to organize the state Militias, set minimal standards, and standardize arms.