Groups of citizens trained as soldiers who are not part of the professional army but can be called on to defend their country in emergencies.
From Latin 'militia,' meaning 'military service.' The word comes from 'miles' (soldier). Militias were common in early America.
The U.S. Constitution mentions 'well-regulated militia' to explain why people can own guns—the Founders imagined armed citizens forming militias if the government needed defending, which is still debated today!
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