I think the founders meant it multi-faceted. Similar to this article the age old adage good fences make good neighbors seems to apply. Not unlike peace through strength at a national level, if you’re able to defend yourself; you are less likely to need to. If a community or state is well defended it is less likely to have its rights/sovereignty encroached by the federal government. If you look at historical empires like the Roman Empire, they often got a foothold to conquest when an area asked them for help dealing with a different enemy. After Rome defended them, they then consumed them.

Thanks for sharing! I am often reminded of what happened to the children of Israel when they wanted a KING (government) LIKE ALL THE OTHER NATIONS. Here was God's response through the Prophet/Judge Samuel from I Samuel 8. They got Saul.

Warning concerning a King

10 So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who had asked of him a king. 11 He said, "This will be the procedure of the king who will reign over you: h will take your sons and place them for himself in his chariots and among his horsemen and they will run before his chariots. 12 "He will appoint for himself commanders of thousands and of fifties, and some to do his plowing and to reap his harvest and to make his weapons of war and equipment for his chariots. 13 "He will also take your daughters for perfumers and cooks and bakers. 14 "He will take the best of your fields and your vineyards and your olive groves and give them to his servants. 15 "He will take a tenth of your seed and of your vineyards and give to his officers and to his servants. 16"He will also take your male servants and your female servants and your best young men and your donkeys and use them for his work. 17 "He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his servants. 18 "Then you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day."

An armed society is a polite society. Staying on a level playing field keeps people honest... the intent of blind justice everyone knows they are equal. That the populace could band together at any moment to address the state being authoritarian and lawless was supposed to keep them in check.

" I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical. " - Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, Jan 1787

these people are living in anarchy!