When we set out to look at far-right extremism in Upstate New York, we had a few basic questions. First, we wanted to know the status of the far-right movement here. What do people believe in? What groups and militias have been active? We found that all...
Absolute dumbasses. The lowest achievers from high school, never left town, and signed up for Facebook one day, and now here we are.
In my state, claiming to be part of a militia, unless you’ve been specifically called up by the Governor, or activated by the feds somehow or another, is a felony.
These groups needs to be considered terrorists, their assets seized, and their presence made illegal. Their goal is the violent oppression of minorities in violation of the Constitution.
Long time ago the Supreme Court said advocating to overthrow the government is protected First Amendment speech, and that made sense when I learned about it but now I think it was a mistake, said from a place of great comfort.
Speaking peacefully about government change is not the same as forming an armed militia. Don’t let them conflate those two things in your mind.
True story.
They are auditioning. Their paperwork will be appropriately stamped if their candidate gets in.
2nd amendment though? Sounds like your state has an unconstitutional law.
You’re ignoring the majority of the second amendment, as well as it’s history.
It’s also gone through the Supreme Court and confirmed as constitutional - because private paramilitary organizations are not protected by the 2nd amendment, from Presser v. Illinois in 1886 all the way through DC v. Heller in 2008.
Your understanding of the 2nd Amendment seems to be limited to the single line of “keep and bear arms”, ignoring the remainder of the amendment as well as it’s historical basis as part of a desire to not have a standing army.
I recommend learning more about it.
A civilian militia is a group of armed civilians. We’re banning all groups now?
As has been the case throughout American history.
Georgetown put together fact sheets if you want the state-by-state:
https://www.law.georgetown.edu/icap/our-work/addressing-political-violence-unlawful-paramilitaries-and-threats-to-democracy/state-fact-sheets/
There’s a bunch of civilian groups in my state that call themselves militias, definitely unauthorized.
I wonder how they got around this. Never knew
Same way you can go a few miles over the limit and not get a ticket - they aren’t being looked at.
Or maybe they are, and they haven’t crossed a line that makes it a “big bust” that prosecutors like to do in order to bolster their political position.
Or some members are cops.
Lots of illegal things happen every day without being prosecuted, doesn’t make it any more legal though.