"Saved by the Militia"

Interesting article. Historically our militias were organized to some extent with officers being appointed out of the local population. In some ways it goes back to the idea of some sore of compulsory service for everyone, an idea I've always liked.

The line that will have to be defined is the difference between defending from threats to the community and engaging in vigilantism. This is part of the area where I do think a more formal system of local officers of the militia needs to be in place. Otherwise it could easily descend into being no more than collections of armed mobs with their own agendas.

I can't disagree with this article. Indeed, I have been advocating the same in my discussions and debates. However, I have gone farther in my advocacy of informal (not government organized militia) to defend against unlawful attacks by government. Inasmuch as We have allowed government to grow cancerously beyond the enumerated powers, it is logical to expect that it may one day infringe unlawfully on our freedoms and We will have no recourse other than to submit or fight. Unlike terrorists, their attacks will be organized and coordinated, and no individual or unorganized group of individuals, regardless of how well armed they may be, will be able to resist

A friend passed on to me a story written by a citizen who had served in a militia. That person was part of support team.
Sustenance, morale/recreation/ theater camp maintenance .. according to the book 20 of the Reserve deputies in that town were part of the Militia. The Militia had a understanding with the town that they would support as and where needed in any sitrep.. many of the others were trained as rescue workers, first aid, disaster relief and had helped the Red Cross when volunteers were needed
Post haste .. The Militia had their insignia that had mix of different Military items and a outline of a Swiss Cross but not colored in .. One day the town had a parade and many of the ‘militia’ Participated. The state official asked what regiment of National guard were they.. even though uniform s neat and trimmed beards and some handlebar mustaches they didn’t fall in regs for a Nat’l Guard unit and the mayor explained the situation .. the state official wasn’t going along with it. Even all the good works the ‘Militia’ was doing. He wanted them shut down . They were contradictory to what was acceptable .
And when he heard that some of the town’s reserve police deputies were part of the militia.. he went ballistic and wanted them to resign from the militia. And they would no longer teach militia members and family members firearm use and safety.. The guy was totally lost on what went on in that town.. some years before a group of escaped prisoners from a state
Institution showed up in town. They showed up in the wrong town.. They were all taken prisoner w/o one person being injured. One of them had hurt themselves in a fall down a rocky hillside. His leg and arm were set in splints before being taken into custody by Troopers from State Police. A guard who had been taken hostage gave them bad info that led them to the town full of militia. The bad guys figuring they didn’t need the guard’s Services any longer tied him up and knocked him out and took off to the town full of the militia thinking it be an easy mark.. how wrong they were !.. another story of a lost kid from a family camping in the wild .. The Militia found it and returned it to the search team of Rangers.. so not all militias are full of malcontents .. people need to understand them better is all..