The birth of a militia: how an armed group polices Black Lives Matter protests

The Guardian US Edition ^ | July 27 2020 | unknown

[euram]

In Utah, members of a militia claim their presence deters protesters from becoming violent and destroying the state Nicolle Okoren in Provo Published on Mon 27 Jul 2020 05.00 EDT

1,754

The Utah Citizens’ Alarm is only a month old, and yet it already boasts 15,000-plus members.

The citizen militia’s recruits wear military fatigues and carry assault rifles. Their short-term goal, they say, is to act as a physical presence of intimidation to deter protesters from becoming violent and destroying the state of Utah. Their long-term goal: to arm and prepare the state of Utah against underground movements they believe will incite civil war.

[eastexsteve]

Texas govt code 431 establishes and allows a militia. It doesn’t outlaw them.

[DEPcom]

“It begins.”

Only a matter of time before gun fire is exchange.

[ConservativeInPA]

Thanks for posting the legal codes. I checked out PA’s paramilitary training code. I’m not a lawyer, but is seems to be centered around training for the purposes of civil disorder or instruction on the making weapons for civil disorder. In other contexts, and there are stated exemptions in the code, it is perfectly legal to teach someone how to make a weapon or how to handle a weapon, less explosives. I wonder where the line is for training for self/group or common defense and that for civil disorder. What qualifies for the protection of the Commonwealth or the Republic, particularly when government fails to protect citizens and their property?

[Turbo Pig]

The MO law stated says nothing anti about militias or para military. In fact it is quite the opposite:

"3. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to prohibit the training or teaching of the use of weapons for law enforcement purposes, hunting, recreation, competition, or other lawful uses and activities. "

In fact, militia formation, training, and use by the Governor is codified in the MO Constitution.

[LambSlave]

I agree, they are intended to be selectively enforceable to frighten the people enough to limit the size and power of militias.

[clamper1797]

A google search on ARIZ. REV. STAT. ANN. s 26-123 came up with 26-123. Maintenance of private troops prohibited; violation; classification A. No person, partnership or corporation shall maintain troops under arms, but this section shall not be deemed to prohibit a business, plant or firm from maintaining armed guards for protection of their property from damage or loss, or formation of a state police or highway patrol, or the existence of county and municipal police forces and sheriff's posses.

It does NOT refer to a militia but rather refers to the formation of private armies ...

however this did come up as well ...

The Arizona State Militia is a locally organized body of armed American citizens committed to defending their Constitutional liberties and serving their local communities. We are free and independent from the control of any local, state, or federal government, except when called to service by the State Governor under AZ SB 1495 and ARS 26-124. Our whole purpose is to defend our freedoms. So, the Arizona State Militia acts freely to defend freedom and our community.

Sec 26-124. Service by members of unorganized militia; volunteers during emergency; enrollment; selection; organizing selectees Latest version. A. When the governor proclaims an emergency, and, upon advice of the adjutant general, determines that the national guard does not have sufficient troops to meet the emergency, the governor may authorize the adjutant general to accept for service from the unorganized militia a specified number of volunteers. B. If the governor deems an emergency of a nature that all or a large portion of the unorganized militia should be called into service of the state, he shall by proclamation order all members of the unorganized militia to enroll with the county recorder of the county in which they reside. The enrollment shall be in triplicate stating the full name, residence, age, occupation and previous service of each person enrolled. The rolls shall be verified by the enrolling officer who shall retain one copy and file one copy with the adjutant general and one with the clerk of the superior court of the county in which the person is enrolled. The persons called into service shall be determined by lot in accordance with a plan devised by the governor and implemented by him. The plan shall be patterned upon the latest selective service act of the United States and executive orders of the president issued to implement the law. C. Upon mobilization for state purposes members of the unorganized militia shall be organized under the command of the officer the governor designates into units comparable to units of the national guard. The Arizona governor has authorized and supports the Arizona State Militia. The Sheriffs of several Arizona counties have stated their support for the ASM and have stated in the militia meetings that they have attended their intention to deputize the militia members in times of emergency

[Big Red Badger]

We got alot in Common,
I do, sometimes get so mad
I kick my Own Butt!

[fortes fortuna juvat]

I’ve been predicting this for the past couple of months.

Not a hard prediction when the rule of law disappears and the cops are not allowed to protect us.
...............................................
There should be a citizens militia in every State comprised of volunteers 18 years of age or older who will swear an oath to repel any attack upon their themselves, their families, or their property by any enemy force, foreign or domestic.

[Lurker]

“In one branch of my big family, there are four men, forty guns!”

How many can they shoot at the same time? Personally I’d rather have 40 guys with one gun each who know how to use them.

Maybe that’s just me.

L

[Big Red Badger]

Note to self,
CHAINSAW.

[mac_truck]

Boogaloos march with BLM, not counter to them.

[zaxtres]

I’ve often thought that a similar group is needed at Trump rallies. The rally attendees are totally defenseless because no weapons, not even mace, is allowed in the venue. Coming out and going to our cars we are particularly vulnerable. Big city police won’t or aren’t allowed to get involved.

---

It’s more than that. The opposition doesn’t need to be violent as was demonstrated in the first rally. They blocked streets so attendees could not get to the rally. Yes it could have turned into violence. The police did nothing to ensure safe passage to the rally and allowed the blockade to happen. So Utah has a militia that is now armed and in Kentucky we saw another group called the NFAC counter this group. This is only escalating and it might be too late to stop the train. As to the person who said it begins, no its past the beginning we are in the runup stages. The more groups that arm themselves and take things into their own hands will be met by the other side doing the same. We are past a lock to the head. We are now in the stage of intermittent shootings until one day there is going to be a full blown shoot out in the streets and heaven forbid the innocents that are caught in the middle. It’s like the Cartel violence has migrated north and took up residence but the fight isn’t over drugs per se.

[Svartalfiar]

Texas govt code 431 establishes and allows a militia. It doesn’t outlaw them.

It pretty much does, unless you can get around it by calling yourself a private security contractor or something like that. The Code doesn't define what constitutes a private militia / military organization. All the rest of the code does is mostly deal with official forces: TX National Guard, State Guard, and reserve militia, which is just everyone they draft in an emergency. But what's the difference between your shooting club, your tactical training group, Security companies, Military contractors like Blackwater, and the guys in your neighborhood? Where's the defining line between allowed by the grace of government and not?

§ 431.010. ORGANIZATION PROHIBITED. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), a body of persons other than the regularly organized state military forces or the troops of the United States may not associate as a military company or organization or parade in public with firearms in a municipality of the state.
(b) With the consent of the governor, students in an educational institution at which military science is a prescribed part of the course of instruction and soldiers honorably discharged from the service of the United States may drill and parade with firearms in public.

[nutmeg]

Good! There’s at least one big militia group in Idaho as well, right?

[JayAr36]

My question is:

Just who is financing the riots they aren’t cheap. I know everyone thinks it’s Soros but I haven’t seen anything about any investigations.

Van loads of weapons and explosives and not a word.

[miserare]

Yes!

Do it like rooftop Koreans.

Or proud Hispanics!

[miserare]

True. But try to tell them that. 🙀

[eastexsteve]

But what's the difference between your shooting club, your tactical training group, Security companies, Military contractors like Blackwater, and the guys in your neighborhood? Where's the defining line between allowed by the grace of government and not?

The Texas State constitution and US Constitution. Both allow for militias. 431.010 clearly expresses hostility to independent local militias within municipalities, but it has no penalties, and does not apply to rural areas. (A key phrase here being " in a municipality of the state..") It's main intent seems to be to discourage local officials from calling up the militia.

The only statutes which local officials might invoke against a militia muster within a municipality would be those against exhibiting a firearm in a way that "alarms" the public. However, centuries of common law makes it clear that merely carrying firearms is not to be considered "alarming".

I also found this opinion to be of interest: Present U.S. and Texas law clearly fail to implement the requirements for organizing and training the Militia established by the Framers. However, we must also recognize that this failure goes all the way back to 1792, and that such organizing and training are, therefore, left to the people themselves, in the form of independent local militias, which they have a constitutional duty to maintain in a high state of preparedness, even if they get little support from the authorities, and indeed, especially if they get opposition from the authorities.

[miserare]

Like Dame May Whitty in “Guns Along the Mohawk.”

[miserare]

Oops! Brain blip...

That movie was “Drums Along the Mohawk.”

I love all those old movies about how the pioneers defended themselves against violent mobs.