EDITOR'S NOTE: The role of a modern militia is a controversial issue that has been discussed and debated in America for decades. The following content represents the viewpoint of its authors. Please feel free to express your opinions on the subject by commenting on this post.
GUEST POST by Craig Campbell and Jerry Todd —
With 80 million plus U.S. firearm owners, one might think the average American fully understands the concept and purpose for a militia. Unfortunately that is not the case. The true stature of militias has been obscured by those forming "secret" militias due to various and sometimes justified fears of the world around them. These counterfeit militias fall into two general groups: Naïve citizens threatened by societal changes who form up to protect themselves and their families; and militaristic groups displaying anti-societal behaviors from anarchist views to breaking existing law. Many empathize with the former and seeing alarming trends ask, "What will we do?" But empathy aside, anything done in secret is not in keeping with the traditional militias.
Organizing in secret provides ammunition for the press to demonize anything named a militia as "evil people bent on the destruction of others." The bottom line is no one will trust the actions of a group whose plans are made in secret. Probably the best example is the current administration. President Obama promised "the most transparent administration ever" and yet it is the least transparent and most divisive in history. Do you trust this administration?
Because the entire perception of a militia has been distorted by people and the press, we need to know "What is a militia?" as understood by our founders. Colonial militias were established in the charters of the colonies. For example, the New Hampshire Militia was first organized in March 1680, by New Hampshire Colonial President John Cutt. From its inception, the citizen militia was formed and supported by local government. "Based on the British system, colonial militias were drawn from the body of adult male citizens of a community, town, or local region. Because there were usually few British regulars garrisoned in North America, colonial militia served a vital role in local conflicts, particularly in the French and Indian Wars (1754-1763)." *
The colonial militias were citizen volunteers, commanded by citizen officers and each man provided his own musket and ammunition. Not until things got ugly with England, did the citizen militias begin to store significant arms and munitions. The citizen militia, composed of friends and neighbors, stood united on the Lexington Green on April 19th, 1775. Today, we know that before the Bill of Rights (December 15th, 1791), before the Constitution of the United States (September 17th, 1787) and before the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776), men of the colonial militia fought and died for freedom from tyranny.
The historical American concepts of a colonial militia, recognized and supported by our founders, are what we call today a "Constitutional Militia." Based on our history it is to be: – the gathering of men (and women) from the same community; – with sufficient arms and munitions; – to defend themselves and their families; – to defend their property; – to defend their God given rights and freedoms; – with citizen officers to lead them – to defend their neighbors, state and country.
But people say, "Times have changed. We have existing armed services. Each state has a National Guard that replaces the militia. Why do we need a citizen's militia?" That's a fair question, so let's answer it for Idaho today.
The Idaho Constitution, Article XIV, requires a state militia, but it has been inactive since WWII. Article XIV requires the Idaho Legislature to provide "laws to promote volunteer organizations as may afford them (the state militia) effectual encouragement." They have failed to do so. Just like the US Constitution, our Idaho Constitution calls for the maintenance of a citizen's militia. Idaho's militia movement has been asking for the State to step up to its responsibility, but it has yet to respond. Therefore, what the state fails to provide, citizens are entitled to provide for themselves.
With respect to our armed services and the Idaho National Guard (IDNG), they are both agents of the federal government. Even though the IDNG mission statement includes protection of Idaho, the vast majority of its training, equipment and expenditures are focused on federal objectives. This does not mean the Guard men and women aren't constitutionally minded in their service; quite the contrary. The bottom line is that the federal government's priorities override their service to the State of Idaho. There is no guarantee of their support to Idahoans. The real cause for concern is our current administration which openly lies about Benghazi, the IRS and the NSA; spends money we don't have; ignores the role of Congress; does not enforce laws on the books; and uses Executive orders outside any historical context and there by crushes the Constitution under foot. Therefore we must assume that orders to the armed services and the IDNG will be subject to the same gross lack of integrity. Therefore, how can we view these forces as benign towards Idaho citizens and their rights?
Today's society is a flush with conspiracy theories; some claim they are conspiracy fact. So let's review what we know is true. Even the most ardent economists all concur that our Government CANNOT continue its out-of-control spending. An economic collapse is not "if," but "when." With it comes hyper- inflation that will cause the cost of goods, including food and fuel, will rise dramatically. Local grocery stores only stock a 3-day's supply of food and with resupply trucks not coming, store shelves will empty within hours. Experts also say that a community is nine meals away from chaos. After three days without food, desperate people make desperate choices. With our Idaho National Guard fulfilling a federally mandated mission out of state and local law enforcement officers being overwhelmed; it may rest with a well trained and integrated county militia to maintain public safety.
Granted this is a dark scenario but one that is totally predictable. Regardless of the scenario: economic collapse, earth quakes, dam breaks, volcanoes, hurricanes, tornados, epidemics or tyranny; the results will follow a similar pattern. Jesus made the statement "that you should be as innocent as doves AND wise as serpents." Preparing for the worst and praying for the best is a wise combination. This is exactly why citizen militias are forming faster than at any time in our history. Even states are getting in the act. Arizona is the most recent state to establish a State Defense Force (aka Militia) that is under the direct control of the governor. The wise American looking for a place to serve and a place where neighbors are standing together should consider joining a "Constitutional Militia". Police, Sheriff's Deputies, even National Guard units can't be everywhere. But you can! You, your friends and neighbors, working together, are the militia. You can defend those who need your protection when no one else can.
* Quote from Wikipedia on Colonial Militias
GUEST POST by Craig Campbell and Jerry Todd —
With 80 million plus U.S. firearm owners, one might think the average American fully understands the concept and purpose for a militia. Unfortunately that is not the case. The true stature of militias has been obscured by those forming "secret" militias due to various and sometimes justified fears of the world around them. These counterfeit militias fall into two general groups: Naïve citizens threatened by societal changes who form up to protect themselves and their families; and militaristic groups displaying anti-societal behaviors from anarchist views to breaking existing law. Many empathize with the former and seeing alarming trends ask, "What will we do?" But empathy aside, anything done in secret is not in keeping with the traditional militias.
Organizing in secret provides ammunition for the press to demonize anything named a militia as "evil people bent on the destruction of others." The bottom line is no one will trust the actions of a group whose plans are made in secret. Probably the best example is the current administration. President Obama promised "the most transparent administration ever" and yet it is the least transparent and most divisive in history. Do you trust this administration?
Because the entire perception of a militia has been distorted by people and the press, we need to know "What is a militia?" as understood by our founders. Colonial militias were established in the charters of the colonies. For example, the New Hampshire Militia was first organized in March 1680, by New Hampshire Colonial President John Cutt. From its inception, the citizen militia was formed and supported by local government. "Based on the British system, colonial militias were drawn from the body of adult male citizens of a community, town, or local region. Because there were usually few British regulars garrisoned in North America, colonial militia served a vital role in local conflicts, particularly in the French and Indian Wars (1754-1763)." *
The colonial militias were citizen volunteers, commanded by citizen officers and each man provided his own musket and ammunition. Not until things got ugly with England, did the citizen militias begin to store significant arms and munitions. The citizen militia, composed of friends and neighbors, stood united on the Lexington Green on April 19th, 1775. Today, we know that before the Bill of Rights (December 15th, 1791), before the Constitution of the United States (September 17th, 1787) and before the Declaration of Independence (July 4, 1776), men of the colonial militia fought and died for freedom from tyranny.
The historical American concepts of a colonial militia, recognized and supported by our founders, are what we call today a "Constitutional Militia." Based on our history it is to be: – the gathering of men (and women) from the same community; – with sufficient arms and munitions; – to defend themselves and their families; – to defend their property; – to defend their God given rights and freedoms; – with citizen officers to lead them – to defend their neighbors, state and country.
But people say, "Times have changed. We have existing armed services. Each state has a National Guard that replaces the militia. Why do we need a citizen's militia?" That's a fair question, so let's answer it for Idaho today.
The Idaho Constitution, Article XIV, requires a state militia, but it has been inactive since WWII. Article XIV requires the Idaho Legislature to provide "laws to promote volunteer organizations as may afford them (the state militia) effectual encouragement." They have failed to do so. Just like the US Constitution, our Idaho Constitution calls for the maintenance of a citizen's militia. Idaho's militia movement has been asking for the State to step up to its responsibility, but it has yet to respond. Therefore, what the state fails to provide, citizens are entitled to provide for themselves.
With respect to our armed services and the Idaho National Guard (IDNG), they are both agents of the federal government. Even though the IDNG mission statement includes protection of Idaho, the vast majority of its training, equipment and expenditures are focused on federal objectives. This does not mean the Guard men and women aren't constitutionally minded in their service; quite the contrary. The bottom line is that the federal government's priorities override their service to the State of Idaho. There is no guarantee of their support to Idahoans. The real cause for concern is our current administration which openly lies about Benghazi, the IRS and the NSA; spends money we don't have; ignores the role of Congress; does not enforce laws on the books; and uses Executive orders outside any historical context and there by crushes the Constitution under foot. Therefore we must assume that orders to the armed services and the IDNG will be subject to the same gross lack of integrity. Therefore, how can we view these forces as benign towards Idaho citizens and their rights?
Today's society is a flush with conspiracy theories; some claim they are conspiracy fact. So let's review what we know is true. Even the most ardent economists all concur that our Government CANNOT continue its out-of-control spending. An economic collapse is not "if," but "when." With it comes hyper- inflation that will cause the cost of goods, including food and fuel, will rise dramatically. Local grocery stores only stock a 3-day's supply of food and with resupply trucks not coming, store shelves will empty within hours. Experts also say that a community is nine meals away from chaos. After three days without food, desperate people make desperate choices. With our Idaho National Guard fulfilling a federally mandated mission out of state and local law enforcement officers being overwhelmed; it may rest with a well trained and integrated county militia to maintain public safety.
Granted this is a dark scenario but one that is totally predictable. Regardless of the scenario: economic collapse, earth quakes, dam breaks, volcanoes, hurricanes, tornados, epidemics or tyranny; the results will follow a similar pattern. Jesus made the statement "that you should be as innocent as doves AND wise as serpents." Preparing for the worst and praying for the best is a wise combination. This is exactly why citizen militias are forming faster than at any time in our history. Even states are getting in the act. Arizona is the most recent state to establish a State Defense Force (aka Militia) that is under the direct control of the governor. The wise American looking for a place to serve and a place where neighbors are standing together should consider joining a "Constitutional Militia". Police, Sheriff's Deputies, even National Guard units can't be everywhere. But you can! You, your friends and neighbors, working together, are the militia. You can defend those who need your protection when no one else can.
* Quote from Wikipedia on Colonial Militias
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