State Militias

[InkEd]

Does anyone else think it could be a good idea to have legitimate state militias. I understand the idea that the national military is strong and can handle any issues BUT they are at the command of the Federal government.

If the states had their own militias, I could see there being some advantages. They could be used for situations usually dumped on the National Guard and the response time could be quicker because of less red tape and political involvement.

Also, I think it could be beneficial to ensure states rights and freedoms. I don't think we will ever have another American civil war in any of our lifetimes BUT if there was a serious enough disagreement the states would have no serious option but to listen to the Federal government. (This excludes any civilian volunteers and local LE agencies that would support the states rights.)

Like I said, the US military is great and I have gratitude and respect for all of our veterans. They are for the most part fine upstanding people of honor and courage. (The "suits that tell the camo what to do" are the ones IMHO that would be the cause of any problems.)

It's a weird paranoid thought BUT does anyone else think it MIGHT be at least not a bad idea? Even just for the benefit of a quicker response time or temporary containment/control (that is too much for local LE to handle) of a situation until the Federal agencies decide how to respond to a problem? (I am thinking of the chaotic early stages of events like 9/11 and Katrina.)

We are after all the United STATES of America. Which means (or so one COULD interpret it) that we are a group of individual smaller areas that work together when needed. Personally, I think ALOT of people are more confident and comfortable with their state government than the national government.

I think the national military is irreplaceable and the best in the world. I just think there could be a benefit of a smaller more localized military type unit.

I guess for comparision the National Guard is close to what I have in mind but instead the members would be full time status and controlled at a state level.

Anyway, I apologize for the long rambling post. What are your thoughts on the idea of having state militias?

 

[Hatterasguy]

According to the 2nd amendment at least the way I read it and it has been interpreted, they are required.

In this regard gun owners are kind of skirting it, technically we should all be in "well regulated" militias.

But thankfully we can skirt this little technicality, because I have better things to do then run around and play solider.

 

[InkEd]

I agree and upon further research some states actually do have state militias "per se." They still fall under the National Guard though which is (as mentioned earlier) a Federal agency. I would like to see a fully INDEPENDENT state supported militia. Whatever I guess?

 

[hardworker]

I feel like logistics would lead to a nightmare of paperwork for this type of system. I also think this would weaken the federal government. The federal government is the only thing that has held the states together. The US is greater than the sum of its parts, and weakening those bonds would probably be counter-productive to the good of the nation as a whole.

 

[taliv]

while there is occasionally some overlap between the RKBA and military and militia topics, this question is really pretty far removed from our scope.