Why not enlist in your state's militia?

[Bill_Rights]

CLARIFICATION: The poll question refers ONLY to your official State militia, not neo-Nazi or caused-based militias, however valuable or desirable those might be. Post your own poll about them, if you want.

We speak of the "militia" in some good threads. It has bearing on the US Constitution, various (or all?) state constitutions, 2nd Amendment rights and States Rights (the concept of Federalism).

Some think that militias are antiquated and irrelevant, at least no more than a distraction. Well, let's find out!

It turns out that my state, Virginia, has an active state militia. It is called the Virginia Defense Force. (Here is the web site)

I meet the requirements for recruitment into the VDF, so I applied for enlistment by E-mail to Lt. Howells. I will post again when/if anything comes of it.

For a baseline reference, here are the enlistment requirements and mission of the Virginia Militia.

Eligibility Requirements:
· United States citizens
· A valid Social Security number
· Age 16 to 65 (Minors require written consent of parent or legal guardian.)
· Physical ability to perform in any assigned billet
· No felony convictions
· Good moral character

Authorization and Missions: (from: Virginia state web page about its militia)
§ 44-75.1. Militia state active duty.

A. The Governor or his designee may call forth the militia or any part thereof to state active duty for service in any of the following circumstances:

1. In the event of invasion or insurrection or imminent threat of either;

2. When any combination of persons becomes so powerful as to obstruct the execution of laws in any part of this Commonwealth;

3. When the Governor determines that a state agency or agencies having law-enforcement responsibilities are in need of assistance to perform particular law-enforcement functions, which functions he shall specify in his call to the militia;

4. In the event of flood, hurricane, fire or other forms of natural or man-made disaster wherein human life, public or private property, or the environment is imperiled;

5. In emergencies of lesser magnitude than those described in subdivision 4, including but not limited to the disruption of vital public services, wherein the use of militia personnel or equipment would be of assistance to one or more departments, agencies, institutions, or political subdivisions of the Commonwealth;

6. When the Governor determines that the National Guard and its assets would be of valuable assistance to state, local or federal agencies having a drug law-enforcement function to combat the flow of or use of illegal drugs in the Commonwealth, he may provide for the National Guard or any part thereof to support drug interdiction, counterdrug and demand reduction activities within the Commonwealth, or outside the Commonwealth under the National Guard Mutual Assistance Counterdrug Activities Compact. In calling forth the National Guard under this section, the Governor shall specify the type of support that the National Guard shall undertake with state, local or federal law-enforcement agencies. Once called forth by the Governor, the National Guard is also specifically authorized to enter into mutual assistance and support agreements with any law-enforcement agencies, state or federal, operating within or outside this Commonwealth so long as those activities are consistent with the Governor's call. All activities undertaken by the National Guard in the areas of drug interdiction, counterdrug and drug demand reduction shall be reported by the Adjutant General's office to the Governor and reviewed by the Governor no less frequently than every three months; and

7. When the Governor or his designee, in consultation with the Adjutant General, determines that the militia or any part thereof is in need of specific training to be prepared for being called forth for any of the circumstances expressed in subdivisions 1 through 6 above. Such training may be conducted with a state or federal agency or agencies having the capability or responsibility to coordinate or assist with any of the circumstances set forth in subdivisions 1 through 6 above.

B. The Virginia National Guard shall be designated as a state law-enforcement agency for the sole purpose of receiving property and revenues pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981(e) (2), 19 U.S.C. § 1616a, and 21 U.S.C. § 881(e) (1) (A).

(1988, c. 352; 1993, c. 932; 1995, c. 49; 1996, cc. 71, 805.)

 

[TexasRifleman]

Texas has one as well.

http://www.txsg.state.tx.us/

The Commander in Chief of the Texas Military Forces is the Governor of Texas.

We have an air force too LOL

http://www.agd.state.tx.us/air/airindexframe.htm

I'm not sure if the Air Guard is directly reporting to the Governor.


I'm just over the age limit.

 

[Cannonball888]

Florida has a few but none that I know of acknowledging authority over them by the governor.

 

[Hugo]

Hmmm interesting. Now if they let guard members (in ANY state) concealed carry anywhere, membership would be at all time highs just for that to many people. Probably owning personal machine guns too.

Though being sent to Iraq or Afghanistan would not appeal to many. Especially since it's kind of a reserve reserve that's supposed to stay at home "just in case".

 

[chris in va]

When was the last time a militia was activated by a state government?

I don't see the point, unless everything breaks down such as a Katrina event.

 

[Hugo]

Noticed on the website the Texas State Guard helps with Hurricanes. These state run militias seriously need to advertise more. I never heard of them until today. At first people might think they're wierdo fringe groups like Timothy McVeigh might have been with, when actually it's quite the opposite.

 

[heviarti]

I doubt idaho has such a thing.

In the case of a militia organization seperate from the state... I need the training but not the attention.

 

[Gunnerpalace]

Unwilling for me.

 

[IndianaBoy]

I can volunteer without the attention being a member of a militia member might get me.

I can just imagine how the media or some prosecutor would portray that if I was ever involved in a self defense shooting.

Like it or not we have reached that point in this litigious society.

 

[paintballdude902]

mine is about 7 hours away

 

[danprkr]

I've to many health problems most likely, but may check into it for grins.

IndianaBoy -I'd like to take you task about being worried about being in a state sanctioned, funded, and run group. But, I'm afraid you could very well be right.

 

[Hk91-762mm]

I would gladly join the -un-organised militia,,,The one not associated with the guvment!

 

[Silverado6x6]

I would steer clear of any organized militia that could possibly be controlled by the government, call me paranoid but I keep getting a feeling every single day that there is an ongoing chain of events focused on getting information about gun owners in any way possible.

One day you get called to show up for your militia and when you get there you are promptly and quietly put away in a holding camp just like a cops show sting about setting up a fake prize giveaway.

That would be a perfect sting, first prize notifications of something like a Barret .50 sent out locally.

 

[springmom]

They don't take 54-year old women with rheumatoid arthritis

Jan

 

[janedoedad]

Georgia also has one.

http://www.gasdf.com/index.htm

The GSDF is entirely volunteer, receives little state and no federal funding. Members are responsible for the purchase and maintenance of their own uniforms and equipment.

The term "Defense Force" is a misnomer as the GSDF is unarmed.

On the plus side, active membership in the GSDF serves as a Georgia Firearms License for open/concealed carry and precludes a NICS check when purchasing/transferring a firearm in Georgia. This same exemption applies to all military personnel with an exception for certain inactive reservists.

 

[christcorp]

A lot of opinions about not wanting to be part of a militia if it's part of the government; yet the 2nd amendment speaks of a a well REGULATED militia, being necessary to the security of a free State. It seems if the state was regulating it, it would be the exact purpose and meaning of the 2nd amendment. A lot of people do their best to interpret things the way they believe, but when they don't like the interpretation, they really do tend to fight it. It seems to me that if there's a problem with the way a militia is being run, then you should get involved to ensure it's run the way the constitution intend it to be. Considering how many states have pressed recently to ensure sovereignty and the right to succeed from the union; it seems that the states, or at least some of them, are thinking along the same lines that some who seem against a militia being regulated by the state government think.

 

[Animal Mother]

A lot of opinions about not wanting to be part of a militia if it's part of the government; yet the 2nd amendment speaks of a a well REGULATED militia, being necessary to the security of a free State. It seems if the state was regulating it, it would be the exact purpose and meaning of the 2nd amendment.

The Supreme Court disagrees with your assessment. (See District of Columbia v. Heller)

"The Second Amendment guarantees an individual's right to possess a firearm unconnected with service in a militia, and to use that arm for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defense within the home." -- Holding of the Supreme Court of the United States in District of Columbia v. Heller.

 

[colorado_handgunner]

Overseas

From what I know of the National Guard, many states activate their members in support of "The War on Terror". In South Carolina, we had a large portion of our national guard sent to Iraq and Afghanistan for extended tours. I simply cannot afford to be deployed overseas now. I would not be able to pay rent/car payment/etc.

Before I get flamed, this my understanding of how the deployments went. I could have misunderstood, and it may be different in other states. Just throwing this out there.

Also, is this post talking of something outside of the National Guard? If so, I know nothing about such organizations.

 

[Phydeaux642]

Heck, in Missouri, if I think for myself and have a gun I am already considered to be more likely to join a militia, so, maybe I should look into it.

 

[rcmodel]

Not willing.

Because one of ours is, or was run by a bunch of whack-jobs who thought it was a god given right to refuse to pay taxes, and allegedly had a barn full of HE & illegal weapons.

I don't need that kind of attention from the goober-mint!

BTW: Do Not confuse the National Guard with any state militia.

Not the same thing atall!

rc

 

[Bill_Rights]

The US Constitution merely says "well regulated militia", not government-controlled militia. Theoretically, there could be several militias per state, one closely associated with the Governor of the state, the others not so much. I believe that at the time of the founding, local militia leaders (for areas smaller than the whole state) did not have to be elected officials, government employees, military or ex-military folks but probably just respected land owners who had demonstrated competance in leadership and organizational skills. I would think that there was some voting or vetting for local militia leaders; they would not be just self-appointed.

Someone mentioned militia membership in the context of a self-defense shooting. I think that if you were a member of THE state militia, the one commanded by the Governor, your membership status would be "a wash" or maybe even a positive. As probably meant by the poster(s), membership in a self-appointed militia would probably be a big negative.

 

[Bill_Rights]

rcmodel said:

Do Not confuse the National Guard with any state militia.

Correct! Virginia has both.

 

[yokel]

The Constitution gives the Federal Government control over all the military forces of the United States including the militia.

But what is the Militia? The Militia was, and still is, a grouping of citizens capable of being called to military service. It is not an organization. Individuals in the group have no power to act unless they are called to service. Once mustered into service, the militiaman becomes part of the military and is placed in a military unit. He is subject to military law and is obliged to obey the orders of his officers.

Who has the power to call out the militia? The President, your Governor, and in most states, the sheriff or the municipal authorities. The purpose for which the militia can be called into service is to enforce the law, to protect the lives and property of citizens of the community, to suppress riot or insurrection, or to repel invasion.

The promotion of policy or politics is not a lawful reason to call forth the militia. When the militiaman becomes a soldier, he loses his right to trial by jury and can be punished by a court martial, a broad of military officers. If he fails to obey the lawful orders of his superiors, he can be punished. In time of war, he can be executed for failure to obey those orders. If a group of militiamen fail to obey orders, and engage in what would be considered lawful protest in the civilian world, the military considers that mutiny. Mutiny is a serious offense which, under certain conditions, can be punished by death. If a body of persons under arms resists the lawful orders of civilian authorities, that may equal sedition or treason. Those crimes also carry the death penalty.

Being in an active militia unit is not a game. It carries legal responsibilities.

Although America has had a long history of "independent" militia companies, those companies were always charted and sanctioned by the civil authority. After the American Revolution, independent militia companies became fashionable just as did fraternal organizations such as the Masons. The companies often had fanciful names and uniforms patterned after some elite European unit. If you are ever in Boston on the first Monday in June, go to Boston Common. There you will witness the election of officers of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, the nation's oldest militia group. The pageantry is outstanding.

 

[cyclopsshooter]

if it was state sponsored and commanded by an actuall government officer with military or LEO traning and experience i might consider it- bearded compound bubbas with ARs hold no appeal for me

 

[wabrams]

When was the last time a militia was activated by a state government?

I don't see the point, unless everything breaks down such as a Katrina event.

They use them in SC a good bit for event security.