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the false idea that there existed a class of citizens as understood at the time outside the militia.
There was and there is such a class. All females, for one thing. And everyone over a certain age. The fact that the average life span in the 18th century was XY does not mean anything. I don't want my RKBA turning on whether or not the average colonial Joe lived to be fifty or forty. So the fact that the question presented looks specifically to someone OUTSIDE the militia is a good sign. I don't want this to be about the @#$@ militia. To hades with the militia.
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Allegiance and protection are reciprocal duties and every free male had a duty to render his service to his community for its protection.
Don't confuse rhetoric with reality. There was no conscription until the Civil War. And the militia was called up from among armed VOLUNTEERS, not conscripts. There was no requirement that everyone be armed. I'm not at all sure where you got that idea.
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Quite amusing. We are talking about the Second Amendment Ratified in 1791 right? Females had the right of self-defence but were never considered part of the militia until the late 20th century. Free negroes were part of the militia but were not allowed to be armed. The meaning of the Second Amendment is founded upon those who wrote and ratified it. That means that all free white males were to be armed and ready for service. There was no corps of organized and unorganized militia as is the practice today
That's not rhetoric, that's the Virginia Constitution and the law:
1) "By abandoning the helm of Government and declaring us out of his allegiance and protection." Va. Const. June 29, 1776
2) "WHEREAS allegiance and protection are reciprocal, and those who will not bear the former are not entitled to the benefits of the latter: "
An act to oblige the free male inhabitants of this state above a certain age to give assurance of Allegiance to the same, and for other purposes. May 1777.
There was a draft during the American Revolution:
"It is farther enacted, That, for securing the completion of the said regiments, a number of men shall be draughted from the single men of the militia of the several counties, and the city of Williamsburg, whether officers or privates, above eighteen years of age, who have no child, in the following proportions,"
An Act for speedily recruiting the Virginia Regiments on the continental establishment and for raising additional troops of Volunteers." October 1777.
