Why did Anti-Federalists support adding protections for militias to the Bill of Rights?

Anti-Federalists supported constitutional protections for militias because they were deeply suspicious of the strong central government proposed by the U.S. Constitution. Specifically, they feared that the federal government’s power to organize, arm, and discipline a standing military would lead to tyranny and violent oppression.123

By enshrining the right to keep and bear arms in the Second Amendment, Anti-Federalists sought to ensure that the people could maintain a "well regulated Militia". This served several critical purposes:2

• Check on Federal Power: It provided a constitutional mechanism for states and citizens to "thwart and oppose" the federal government should it become tyrannical.23
• National Defense: It ensured a well-trained, disciplined force was available for the defense of the nation, reducing the perceived need for a large standing army.24
• Constitutional Balance: It distributed the "power of the sword" among the people, the states, and the federal government, preventing any single entity from monopolizing military force.2

Ultimately, this reflected a commitment to the principle of civil and military virtue, where citizens remained responsible for the security of a free state.2