The Secret World of Extreme Militias

[cbrgator]

What can we do to stop this fear mongering? We know where TIME stands on this issue, but is there some form of a campaign we can embark on to stop or slow these "exposés?"


http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2022516,00.html

This August weekend of grueling mock combat, which left some of the men prostrate and bloody-booted, capped a yearlong training regimen of the Ohio Defense Force, a private militia that claims 300 active members statewide. The fighters shot blanks, the better to learn to maneuver in squads, but they buy live ammunition in bulk. Their training — no game, they stress — expends thousands of rounds a year from a bring-your-own armory of deer rifles, assault weapons and, when the owner turns up, a belt-fed M-60 machine gun. The militia trains for ambushes, sniper missions, close-quarters battle and other infantry staples.

 

[alsaqr]

We know where TIME stands on this issue, but is there some form of a campaign we can embark on to stop or slow these "exposés?"

I read the Time article and think they did a good job. Some of the so called "militias" are very far out. Time and other news sources have an obligation to report the news. That includes news about the "militia".

 

[Sam1911]

I've moved this to Activism Discussion for the time being.

THR.org is NOT a militia-oriented site. I will leave this open for now, but it needs to develop some plan for furthering RKBA / gun-rights or it won't continue here.

 

[cbrgator]

THR.org is NOT a militia-oriented site. I will leave this open for now, but it needs to develop some plan for furthering RKBA / gun-rights or it won't continue here.

That was my goal. I am not advocating militias. I'm happy for you to shut it down if it gets inappropriate.

 

[Sam1911]

That was my goal. I am not advocating militias.

Ok. I haven't gone to read the whole article yet, but it certainly sounds factual enough. What are you suggesting we do, or suggesting we should be responding to?

Reporting the actual events that these folks participate in doesn't seem like fear-mongering to me -- unless the author is lying about something or casts things in a bad light.

Telling the truth pretty much has to be acceptable, right?

Said another way, if SOF or SWAT magazine or some other publication considered to be "friendly" to our view of the world was to write this article, would they write the same things? Would that article be more or less inflammatory?

 

[TexasRifleman]

We know where TIME stands on this issue, but is there some form of a campaign we can embark on to stop or slow these "exposés?"

I picked up a copy of this issue in the airport the other day to read this one article. I found it very fair to be honest. I didn't get any "demonizing" of gun owners at all.

These organizations exist, some with good intentions and some with bad. The article didn't seem to do anything other than report those facts.

As mentioned, it's hard to organize resistance against some pretty even handed news reporting.

The only part of the article I was unhappy with was the attempt to link some of the "the income tax is illegal" crowd to the Second Amendment.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

"I don't know who the redcoats are," says Brian Vandersall, 37, who designed the exercise and tried to tamp down talk of politics among the men. "It could be U.N. troops. It could be federal troops. It could be Blackwater, which was used in Katrina. It could be Mexican troops who are crossing the border."

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2022516,00.html#ixzz125cnc4e6

Based on previous events, I am guessing that more than likely, it will be some of his people or people like them. Of course I will recant should Mexican troops cross the border into Ohio.

Maybe it is just me, but the militias never seem to be where the disasters or problems are. How many militias present when Katrina hit? How many moved in to stop what were apparent illegal federal actions? They don't seem to be defending the border from invading Mexican troops.

Sorry, but most seem to cry about the injustice AFTER something happens, but none ever seem to be where the action actually is. So as a form of activism, I see the organizations such as that coming up short. All in all, the article seemed fairly well done.

 

[Sky]

These guys who think they would last for one hour against the First Cav or the screaming chickens have not been in real all out combat. Might work for a time against local Police but when the heavies arrive it will be over in short order.

I think I understand the fear some feel for it is all over the net and in some "Main Stream News" outlets about corruption and wrong doing by our elected officials and some policing agencies.

I think most of the bravado and macho bold strutting (b.s.) from the Militias is just that B.S.! They will saber rattle and puff up making themselves feel important and guess what, it is still a free country so whatever makes their boat float. Just don't hurt me or mine.

Like many of you I just hope their General or Colonel whatever rank he calls himself has enough control over his group to keep the hot heads from committing mayhem and having the government declare martial law and confiscate guns. Do I think it will happen; not really. You would have to live through the sixties to understand my reasoning. There was some pretty serious mayhem going on back then.

I have to wonder how many "from my cold dead hands" mentality gave up their arms after the "really great idea" of gun confiscation after Katrine in New Orleans? Armed soldiers change most peoples minds or they die.

There are two sides to every story and what struck me is the slander of the Tea Party folks; lumping them in with the Militia. I have never been to one of their meetings but usually all the news coverage and pictures of the Tea Party groups I have seen look like retired or close to it responsible adults. Typical Americans from all walks of life and heritage.

Face it anyone who disagrees with an agency or government and gains political power will be slandered and a name affixed to them that is less than flattering. Racist, Fear monger, conspiracy theorist, Tea Party Ding Dong, you name it, you hear it all the time whether right or wrong. Human nature; look at all the names made up for our enemies over the years. Also give them a derogatory name they are easier to pop.

There are always crazies in every group even in government but unlike some countries we as a nation are able to vote and change things every couple of years before two much damage is done.

I am like 99% for sure there are FBI and ATF embedded in just about every registered Militia group around. Furthermore I am 95% for sure they troll the forums on the net. But that is just an opinion with no way to back it up.

Back in 1973 we could intercept radio signals on the other side of the world and could fix a location of a BG down to MOA of 155 howitzer so I figure our National Security agencies have a pretty good handle on what evil lurks in the heart's of men now with our satellite and computer capabilities.

Kinda like one of our members once said, " some nut can kill a few dozen with a rifle but a government can kill millions"! Lets just all prey some of the rumors and fear mongering are just a bunch of hot air on both sides.

We need open honest dialog from our elected officials and we as a people need to vote and elect the best we can find.

Time will tell which truth is self evident.

 

[TexasRifleman]

So this is the Activism-Discussion forum don't forget.

It appears most agree there isn't anything greatly out of line in the article, and the topic of whether militias are a good idea or not isn't really related to Activism.

If someone thinks of some action that can be taken to move forward the cause of gun ownership feel free to PM me or Sam1911 and we can reopen this if needed but it appears to have drifted off topic for this subforum, and this particular subforum has some pretty strict guidelines for what should be here as he mentioned earlier.