I read an article about US Senator Edward Markey, who has proposed a bill that would create a federal prohibition on paramilitary groups. Of course, this caught my attention because it is further proof that our federal government is afraid of its citizenship.
I thought it would be good to study the law.
The first laws were the Militia Acts of 1792.
The first Militia act of 1792 gave the President the authority to call on State Militias to defend the country. The second Militia act of 1792 provided for the formation of State Militias, as well as conscription of citizens between 18 and 45.
This worked well for 111 years, with these initial acts being renewed in subsequent acts.
But then came the Militia Act of 1903. In the first militia acts, the control of state militia's were debated. Are these Militia's controlled by the Federal government or the State government?
There was an issue in the War of 1812, when New York's State Militia refused to join Federal fight of the British in Canada, arguing that their purpose was to defend their State.
This Militia Act of 1903 established two classes of Militias:
- the Organized Militia, comprising state militia (National Guard) units receiving federal support
- the Reserve Militia, which included all able-bodied men between ages 17 and 45
Things were relatively calm in the years after passage.
But in 1954, the National Guard was called upon to force-ably establish desegregation:
And so this began the transformation from "THESE United States, to THE United States.
I leave you with the technology that really keeps us free. Sic semper tyrannis
