So we havent heard of State Militias resurging

[nathan]

They were so prominent in the 1990s when Clinton enacted the 1994 AWB . So far in this fight for our 2A, the MSMs havent mentioned of their resurgence which i believe is going on now. At least the NRA is taking the high road to counter the misconceptions of antigunners and offering sensible solutions to gun violence.

 

[Sam1911]

Hmmm...I think the militia movement was a thing of that time, and isn't likely to reappear. They didn't seem to do any good for almost anyone and managed to create quite a sideshow distraction by attracting a lot of questionable folks and drawing too much very negative scrutiny.

Honestly, grass-roots activism is fantastic. Guys getting together to dress in camo and give each other rank titles and such really isn't going to help our cause. If it ever could, its chance to do so died with the unfortunate '90s examples.

 

[yokel]

The right to keep and bear arms was a deadly serious issue back in the critical formative years of the United States of America, from the days of colonial unrest through the Revolution and into the Constitutional era and the War of 1812.

Nowadays, however, the Second Amendment has been for the most part relegated to just another form of recreation, entertainment, sport, pastime, play, leisure activity, diversion, hobby, distraction, and relaxation.

For all intents and purposes, that warrior ethos -- the foundation of what it means to be an militiaman-- has dissipated.

 

[Solo]

You can still join state militias.

 

[Sam1911]

Actually, the militiaman was not exactly what most folks think.

Read Kyle Zelner's Rabble At Arms. BullfrogKen and I got to hear Dr. Zelner speak on that book at the Army Heritage and Education Center last year and he was riveting. Gave a whole new insight on the idea of what constituted the militia as understood by the founders.

"Warrior ethos" would be a misapplied term.

 

[OptimusPrime]

I think Sam is very correct; what we would view as "militias" were a product of the times back then and have been treated like a dirty diaper ever since; nobody touches or goes near it.
But, saying that, human nature also does not change too often and I'm sure the same types of people are conducting the same types of thoughts/meetings/campouts/exercises as they did back then.
The new word for "militia movement" is "doomsday preppers".

 

[AethelstanAegen]

As Sam said, the word militia meant something very different back in 1776. Back then you were in the militia if you were an able-bodied man 17-45 years of age (ie anyone of fighting age/ability was expected to be able to turn out in times of need). So essentially, if you're eligible for selective service, you're in the militia in 1700s terminology.

 

[yokel]

A noteworthy fact is that the same Congress which passed the Second Amendment also saw fit to pass the Militia Act of 1792. This law required every free male between the ages of 18 and 44 to own the same type of rifle that was used by soldiers in the Revolutionary War and to own ammunition as well.

 

[ScrapMetalSlug]

So what happened with the militia act of 1792? This is the first I've heard about it. Was it repealed, or is it just commonly ignored?

 

[Sam1911]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militia_Acts_of_1792

There were several militia acts. One superseding the next.

The last, the Militia Act of 1903 created the National Guard.

 

[yokel]

Thanks to media stereotyping, the average American probably associates the term militia with tax-protesting, bogus-lien-issuing crazies, and may even think that the National Guard is the militia that the Constitution talks about.

Alas, the classical notion of the militia as it existed 200 years ago and the virtues of an armed citizenry seem to have fallen by the wayside due to public apathy and elite dissatisfaction.

Of the two, the latter was more decisive. The militia system was designed to make foreign military adventures difficult, and it did. As recently as 1912, when the federal government tried to send state militia units into Mexico, the attorney general opined that such an order was unconstitutional: Militias could be called into federal service only in cases of invasion or insurrection, not in the service of quasi-imperial ambitions abroad. Earlier efforts to invade Canada had encountered similar difficulties. This problem, coupled with a jealousy from professional military men that dated back to the Revolutionary War, led to the replacement of the militia system with the National Guard, a federally controlled force far more amenable to superpower demands.

 

[Ehtereon11B]

Personally I think the rag tag militias such as Oathkeepers are about as organized and well trained as a boy scout troop. Dressing up in camo and mocking firefights in the woods. I can't tell you how many times I saw videos of militias fumbling with weapons and making all sorts of mistakes such as loading it wrong, shaking it upside down to clear it etc.

 

[Old Fuff]

"The Militia" is still with us.

Its established by nothing less the a U.S. Law, which makes it "The U.S. Militia."

10 USC § 311 - MILITIA: COMPOSITION AND CLASSES

The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.

The classes of the militia are—

(1)the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia;

and

(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.

So with a few minor exceptions, all able-bodied males who are at least 17 years of age, and under 45 years of age, who are or intend to become U.S. citizens, and not members of the National Guard (or regular military services) are members of the unorganized militia - which is the one cited in the Second Amendment.

Oh, and you are expected to provide your own small arm and ammunition.

 

[mastiffhound]

State militias still exist. Recently on either National Geographic or Discovery they did a show on state militias. Some are kind of sad. When you see a 32 year old mobidly obese 450 lb man saying he trains hard to fight you kind of die a little inside. Other state militias were very organized, patrolling the mexican border and calling law enforcement when they see things. These were also the types that didn't just accept somebody because they wanted to join. They trained together and seemed more like a cohesive unit. Mostly they are ex-military and police, and friends and family of ex-military and police. Some good some bad but they do still exist.

 

[HorseSoldier]

While there were obviously people who actually were card carrying members of militia groups back during the Clinton years, that whole thing was somewhere upwards of 90% media hype. It was a trope that sold papers, etc., more than it was ever a significant political movement.

And, as others noted, angry overweight white dudes turning out in camo with scary black rifles to play army in the woods as a way to stand up for the Constitution or anything else probably did more harm than good for the 2nd Amendment.

 

[krupparms]

It would seem the government propaganda has done it's job! Even here on a pro 2nd. Amd site! We see citizens putting down the Militia! They have devided us on one of the most important issues! You are the Militia! You make it what it is! Not what some reporter says it is! Quite watching tv, at least the 400lb. angry white guy is doing something! Maybe if you were there he would not be misguided! If it's on tv it must be true!

 

[fallout mike]

After reading a couple of threads today on here im feeling kind of demoralized by supposed like minded people here. Between this one and the one where most everyone said they would probably give their guns up im starting to realize that we have no hope. This country is finished.

 

[Artigas]

A big blow to the militia came in 1825 when the first volunteer or select militia was created and the common militia, that is, the people, was put on the backburner. This happened in Massachusetts, cradle of the Revolution. It was what Richard Henry Lee warned against:

...to preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them; nor does it follow from this, that all promiscuously must go into actual service on every occasion. The mind that aims at a select militia, must be influenced by a truly anti-republican principle; and when we see many men disposed to practice upon it, whenever they can prevail, no wonder true republicans are for carefully guarding against it.

 

[Jesse Wales]

unorganized malitia

well u could join the National Guard:
if u meet the criteria , age background ,
maybe they will condider taking some of us old guys back
as far as unorganized malitias I kind, of relate them to paint ball games
not sure if they should have rubber bullets or real ones , and certainly not
M 16's
when I joind the NG i thought i was joining a group that I would not leave the USA but in reallity , I soon found out that they are reserves of the US Army , and would go directly into combat , along side the Army
not what I thought I had signed up for , I thought in a War we would stay here and defend this country , and deal with Disasters and keep order
so u might ask whoos gonna stay here and protect our own soil ,
the answer is the police ! now we dont have enough police , and the sentiment of the the ARMY is not what it used to be , and weve got guys coming back from this war were in now (police action) that I dont see being treated as well as they should be , and they have to go find a job in an environment of job loss and unemployment

 

[230RN]

Ehtereon11B opined (Post 12):

Personally I think the rag tag militias such as Oathkeepers are about as organized and well trained as a boy scout troop. Dressing up in camo and mocking firefights in the woods. I can't tell you how many times I saw videos of militias fumbling with weapons and making all sorts of mistakes such as loading it wrong, shaking it upside down to clear it etc.

Isn't that what excercises are for? You should have seen me, a civilian, zero-point-zero military training, fumbling around with a borrowed Springfield rifle my first time out on the range (ca 1956). That magazine cutoff sure had me fooled. "On?" "Off?"

And the sights...

There's an old range saying, "The match goes to those who solve their problems best."

But the problems have to come up first, in order to solve them.

Oh, never mind. I'm just glad Youtube wasn't around at the time.



I'm not signing this one so nobody will know who posted it.

 

[hso]

The state militias/defense forces/guards are organized and under the sole control of their states. Joining is easy, but there are requirements and there are regular responsibilities.

 

[303tom]

The right to keep and bear arms was a deadly serious issue back in the critical formative years of the United States of America, from the days of colonial unrest through the Revolution and into the Constitutional era and the War of 1812.

Nowadays, however, the Second Amendment has been for the most part relegated to just another form of recreation, entertainment, sport, pastime, play, leisure activity, diversion, hobby, distraction, and relaxation.

For all intents and purposes, that warrior ethos -- the foundation of what it means to be an militiaman-- has dissipated.

For you maybe.................

 

[OptimusPrime]

Please allow me to alter my earlier statement a bit. When the thread started I was under the impression that the OP's question was about the stereotypical and cliche "militia movement" from the early 90's that was over-hyped, camo-wearing (before it was cool), tough-talking, fringe groups that did get all the media attention. Since then the conversation has steered into the constitutional rights of militias. Same word, different contexts.
For the record, I would absolutely support any gathering of citizens to defend our cities/states as necessary and supplied by ourselves as allowed by many laws described above.

 

[Kansan]

For the record, I would absolutely support any gathering of citizens to defend our cities/states as necessary and supplied by ourselves as allowed by many laws described above.

Militias are a double-edged sword & depend upon the character of its members. In Afghanistan, I've seen that local militias can be very effective in securing their communities against outside threats. With training & proper equipment, they are the ultimate neighborhood watch. However, if that militia decides to misuse its power or if it views the .gov as an outside threat, it can become an enemy of the state. That's what gave some militias a bad name back in the 90's. The citizen-soldier concept is a good one, though, in its proper time and place.

 

[krupparms]

The words & works of our founding father's give us the time &place to use the citizen -soldier concept. We just need to read their words & warnings! I am 53 &100 % disabled, but I will be doing whatever I can if needed! That includes sharing my knowledge or skills so that we can remain free! And keep our Republic safe! By the way. We live in a Republic! Not a Democracy! Look it up they have already taken our Republic from us &no one seems to notice or care!