In a perverse way, gangs have become the new militia. More fragmented, less community oriented, but still, they are cohesive groups with weapons. Any real local militia in the traditional sense of organized responsible producers has been ruthlessly suppressed by the government. Besides, most producers are too busy working to pay for the non-producers.
It’s a weird civic power vacuum.
If I were God, I’d think it was just about time for another flood.