Sunday, May 27, 2012

Are Modern Citizen Militias a Threat?

On New Trajectory, Baldr has compiled a list of modern militia incidents we should all be concerned about.

But as we consider our patriotism, think for a moment about those who espouse a more violent interpretation of what it means to be patriotic. In particular, so-called "citizen militias." They like to pass themselves off as average citizens who are concerned with helping to protect their communities.  In reality they are gun nuts who, if you visit their websites, are insurrectionist anti-government types who stockpile weapons, play soldier in the woods, and often have racist views, hiding their extremist views behind a radical interpretation of the Second Amendment and glorification of a slanted interpretation of Revolutionary War history.  It is an insurrectionist philosophy which the NRA actively supports.  Sadly, these philosophies attract people who are violent and sometimes terroristic, often with tragic consequences.
The list, which may not be comprehensive, is frightening. I think the description of them as"hiding their extremist views behind a radical interpretation of the Second Amendment and glorification of a slanted interpretation of Revolutionary War history" is exactly right.

What do you think?  Please leave a comment.

15 comments:

  1. If you and the Oregonian had lived during the Revolutionary period, you'd have advised your fellow Americans just to send a polite note to the King. Our kind of Americans fought for independence. That's what I think.

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    1. Greg, take a look at that picture up there. What do those idiots have to do with the Revolutionary war?

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    2. I'm not talking about them, and neither are you or the Oregonian. We're talking about the people who comment here. We know it, and you know it.

      But what do you see that's a problem about the men in the picture? The rifle looks to be a five-shot Mauser, not one of those evil black rifles that your side gets panicked about. The men aren't shooting anyone, human or animal. They're just chatting. What I see in that picture are a group of citizens exercising their First and Second Amendment rights. You see people that you can't control.

      Did I miss something?

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  2. War between nations is nothing like the 110,000 shootings happening every year in our nation today. You are only proving my point about hiding behind glorified history, Greg.

    But as for comparing our nation's shootings to war, wait til you see tomorrow's post at New Trajectory.

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    1. I won't be seeing it, since I can't comment on your site. If Mikeb posts the article here, I'll give it a read and respond. You missed my point, so I'll make it again. Your side would have called for peace and dialogue in 1776. Your side calls for being peaceful in the face of a violent attack today. Your side believes in giving in when a thug demands something.

      But you seem to be confused, Oregonian. I'm not a member of a militia. I'm just a good citizen, exercising my rights. It's people like you who want more and more control who push people like me farther toward a belief that we need to be ready to resist.

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    2. Poor guy, can't leave snide comments at my blog, too.

      That's a cop-out, Greg. You don't want to see it because you don't want to admit the problem exists.

      Here it is:
      http://newtrajectory.blogspot.com/2012/05/shocking-how-do-war-deaths-compare-to.html

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    3. You may call my comments snide if you wish. Humor and ridicule are useful tools in the face of stupdity and tyranny.

      But no, it's not a cop-out. You don't want a discussion at your site. When I can comment and you will reply, I'll do so. Until then, no psychoanalysis, please.

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    4. I'm with Greg. I spend my time on blogs that I can comment on. If I can't comment, I might as well be reading a newspaper.

      You know, I agree with the whole "your blog, your rules" thing. You're perfectly within your rights to not allow comments. And we are perfectly within our rights not to read. Just be aware of why your readership is a fraction of other similar blogs.

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  3. If you know of any militia crimes not listed, please let me know and I'll add them.

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    1. I would never tell you anything, and I'm glad that the law of your state prevents you from violating the privacy of carry license holders. The less you know (and that's not hard to achieve), the better.

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  4. BO- what about Volksfront. I remember watching them on Gangland. They may not be a militia though. More defined as a supremacist terrorist organization? Anyway, they are in your neck of the woods.

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    1. Yeah, Volkfront is a serious racist organization worth condemning. Though overtly racist and could be considered "organized crime," they don't have as a focus armed overthrow of the government, paramilitary training, or any emphasis on second amendment as part of their focus. So I haven't included their crimes in the list. Let me know if I'm mistaken, though.

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  5. Morris Dees and his anti-hate group SPLC are one of the most hateful groups in America. Everything they stand for is an affront to the First Amendment and the Rule of Law.
    Do people even still take them seriously? I wouldn't want to be associated with anyone who did. They are simply Pimps and Race Hustlers.
    orlin sellers

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  6. I don't know anything about any militia groups or recent "incidents". I can only comment on the notion of a militia that I would support.

    A militia is part of "we the people" who are deeply concerned about the liberty and well being of "we the people". They exist to defend the liberty and well being of "we the people". Consensus, cooperation, and legal efforts are their first choice of methods to defend the liberty and well being of "we the people". If those methods fail, then a militia is ready to use force as a last resort to defend the liberty and well being of "we the people".

    Any group whose purpose is to interfere with the liberty and well being of "we the people" is not a militia. Such a group is criminal -- whether a criminal gang, supremacy group, or government.

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    1. Exactly so. Oregonian and Mikeb can't stand the idea of gun owners getting together. They might encourage each other and support each other and teach each other. They want gun owners to cower in their homes with their guns disassembled and locked in safes. They want social pressure to keep gun owners from talking about guns in public. The militia that you described is the antithesis of their ideology. In their view, gun owners cannot be good, so a group such as you name is impossible.

      It's too bad you're in Michigan and I'm in Arkansas. We could get a group together.

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