A Review Of Militias In America
The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution states that “A well-regulated Militia, being essential to the security and freedom of a state, is the right for the people to bear Arms” (U.S. Constitution). amend. II). American democracy includes the right of citizens to keep and bear arms. Right-wing militia groups have grown in number and size since Bill Clinton’s presidency, when the Ruby Ridge Incident was and the Waco Siege occurred. This is in response to a wide range of issues, including abortion and government tyranny. While the Constitution protects all Americans’ right to bear arms, and assembly, militias pose a grave threat to domestic security.
Private citizens make militia groups. They use their weapons and ammunition to train in military tactics, to fight the government, or for other reasons such as a natural disaster or the fall of the government. Although right-wing militias have a lot of military experience, they do not include private security firms or armed forces like the National Guard. The broad terms “right-wing miltia” and “militia groups” refer to the large number of American groups that share some common ideologies or behaviors. A majority of Americans support nationalism. They are also strongly pro-constitutionalism. Most people are Christian and most have an interest or a preference for firearms. There are subsets for tax protestors. While there are some militia groups like Three Percent United Patriots that have served or assisted in the aftermath of the Flint water crisis in Michigan and the floods in Louisiana/South Carolina, others’ actions can be far more dangerous and instigative (Bauer (2016)). In October 2016, three Kansas men were arrested for plotting the destruction of a housing development that had many Somali immigrant residents. The trio were all members of the Kansas Security Force, an anti-government militia group which championed the sovereign citizen and hated immigrants and Muslims (Ellis 2016, 2016). The men were not identified by the group. However, a leader from the Three Percent Patriots United, an outlaw militia group based out Colorado, said, “I worry everyday that people will go out to do something,” when asked whether his members would ever attack politicians or members. Timothy McVeigh & Terry Nichols were the ones responsible for setting off a 3.5 ton explosive that killed 168 persons and destroyed Oklahoma City’s Alfred P. Murah Federal Building. They met in Army boot camp, and had similar views on the government (Andryszewski 1997) Two men who had been living together since leaving the Army witnessed a flame spread at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas. It was there that the FBI and ATF unsuccessfully tried to execute an ATF search warrant for federal weapons offenses. 76 men and women, as well as children and 6 Branch Davidians were among the casualties in the fire. McVeigh and Nichols were so furious at the actions of federal agencies, they planned to bomb OKC in retaliation (Freilich 2003). They also cited actions by the ATF and FBI at the Ruby Ridge Incident. In which Sammy Weaver (14 years old) was shot in his back while fleeing US Marshalls, while Vicki Weaver (Major Frederick D. Wong 2011) was being held by her nine-month-old baby. The Oklahoma City bombing revealed the existence of militia and anti-government movements. These movements had previously been limited to gun shows and online messageboards. It showed how dangerous these people were to the federal and everyday citizens.
The president’s first term saw the greatest increase in militias. Many republicans and conservatives joined or formed militias because of his perceived anti-gun agenda and federal authority. Many militias have emerged along the border of Mexico. They are now able to patrol the border in their own time and dollars, fighting drug dealers, traffickers, as well as illegal immigrants (Bauer 2016). They were attracted by President Donald Trump’s support for the 2nd Amendment as well as his tough stance against illegal immigration.
Private militias can pose a threat to national safety for several reasons. In the Law Enforcement Assessment of the Threat from Violent Extremism (Kurzman & Shanzer) 2015, the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security deemed right wing paramilitaries the greatest threat for the United States’ domestic security. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center which monitors extremist groups in America, 276 right-wing organizations were brought to their attention in 2016. This is 37% more than the 202 known in 2014. According to New America – a thinktank that compiles statistics on terrorist activities in the United States – right-wing terrorists have killed less people than Islamic terrorists in the United States. TIME magazine did a six month investigation and found that more militias are prepping for war. The FBI and state investigators have increased their scrutiny of the activities. These groups are also at risk due to the increased number of militias. Many militias can be traced back the KKK and other extremists groups. However, some have only been responsible for making empty threats, while some have actually attacked U.S. citizens. These domestic extremists are similar to terrorist foreign groups. Foreign and domestic militant groups can both indoctrinate children to radical ideologies and procure weapons. They also use propaganda to promote their cause (Wong, 2011,). Another threat is their ability to strike the United States with greater ease than Islamic terrorist groups. Infiltrating foreign groups must be done to avoid detection by intelligence services or immigration vetting. This is done in order to eliminate potential enemies. Many people of Middle Eastern descent will be profiled and must be taught how to use explosives and firearms. Domestic groups are immune to these problems because their members are mostly white, they all live in the United States, many have legal access and some have military experience (Kurzman&Shanzer, 2015). Bauer (2016) further states that inaction by law enforcement or prosecutors helps to facilitate militia activities. Mark Pitcavage, senior research fellow at Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism, stated that no person has ever been tried under anti-militia laws. Only for their acts in relation to militia activity. (Rathod (2016) According to Anti-Defamation League, 41 countries have laws which prohibit either the formation or execution armed private military militias. But, the laws aren’t enforced (2016). These groups’ activities are not usually in violation of any state or federal laws except anti-militia laws. They are therefore low-level targets for law enforcement (Rathod 2016,). Dale L. Watson was the former Executive Assistant Director for the Counterterrorism & Counterintelligence Division at the FBI. He testified before Congress that right-wing extremists are mostly protected by the freedom to free speech, assembly and association (2002). Federal prosecutors are known to bring down militia members before state prosecutors can prove that they have committed a militia conspiracy (Rathod 2016, Part of this issue).
Numerous recent events have highlighted the presence and opposition to the federal government by these militiamen. Clyde Bundy, a federal Bureau of Land Management agent, attempted to seize his cattle in exchange for the millions of land-grazing food feeds he owed. A mob of snipers, armed men and other people positioned themselves on bridges and aimed guns at federal agents. The agents were forced to flee by the mob. Bundy families also took over Malheur Wildlife Refuge’s Forest Rangers’ Office. Robert “LaVoy” Finicum died after reaching for his weapon to escape a roadblock. Bundy-related incidents aside, extremist rightwing plots across the nation were stopped, including one that was planned by KKK members to kill Muslims via a “deathray” (Phillips (2016)).
Right-wing militias pose a threat to national security and can be used as terrorist attack weapons. To prevent violence, intelligence and law enforcement agencies are the only options. National security depends on the monitoring and oversight of extremist militia groups by non-governmental organizations and watchdogs like the Southern Poverty Law Center and Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security. Extremist ideologies and sentiments are deeply rooted and cannot be eradicated quickly. Many groups are motivated by the same racial hatred as in the Civil Rights Movement of 1960, and the same hatred as in the 1800’s when slavery still existed. Although the hateful ideology behind these militias may be impossible to eradicate over the long term, some hateful sentiments towards the government will not be. We can make it easier to conduct background checks on all those who are affiliated with right-wing extremist groups and make it illegal to own firearms. Federal and state prosecutors, as well as law enforcement agencies, need to work together to ensure that extremist militia-related violence is treated as seriously and properly prosecuted. The current law enforcement system makes it harder for them to do their job and puts Americans at risk. The foundation of militia movements is inefficiency. Fixing this inefficiency could be the key to ending them.
