MILITIA, mil ish' ah

The World Book Encyclopedia | 1930 | Unsigned

[TC Rider]

MILITIA, mil ish' ah. In its most common application, this term refers to a body of armed citizens. The militia of the United States is made up of all able-bodied male citizens, and all other able-bodied males who have declared their intention of decoming (sic) citizens, who are not under eighteen or over forty-five years of age. All such persons are liable to conscription in time of war, with the exception of certain Federal and state officials, workmen in armories, arsenals, etc., and members of specified religious sects. The militia is subdivided into the National Guard, the naval militia, and the unorganized militia, the latter consisting of the great body of unenlisted citizens.

The National Guard. This defensive arm is composed of the organized militia of the several states. The Hay-Chamberlain army reorganization bill, approved by President Wilson in June, 1916, provided for 800 enlisted men in the National Guard for each Senator and Representative in Congress, and a number, to be determined by the President, for each territory and the District of Columbia. Under this law, organizations of the militia cannot disband without the consent of the President, nor can their commissioned or enlisted strength be reduced below the minimum prescribed by the President, without his consent.

The period of enlistment is now six years, the first three in the active organization, the second three in the National Guard Reserve. The qualifications for enlistment are the same as in the regular army. In time of war, one reserve battalion for each regiment of infantry or cavalry, and for each nine batteries of field artillery or each twelve companies of coast artillery, may be brought into the service of the United States. This makes it possible for the President to draft about 800,000 militia without calling for volunteers.

The law also requires the militia to assemble not less than forty-eight times each year for drills and instruction, including indoor target practice, with instruction of not less than one and one-half hours' duration for each such period; the character of the instruction is to be prescribed by the Secretary of War. In addition, the militia organizations are to participate in encampments, maneuvers, or other exercises, including outdoor target practice, at least fifteen days in each year, unless excused by the Secretary of War.

Naval Militia. See NAVAL RESERVE.

Obligations to Militia Service. The Constitution of the United States declares that "The President shall be commander in chief of the militia of the several States when called into the service of the United States," thus assuming that the several states would possess and make use of the power to demand military service of their citizens. Every citizen is protected in any lawful enterprise he may under-take, and if such an enterprise is of public benefit, the government usually stands ready to furnish assistance as well as protection. In return, the country or state has a right to expect that every citizen will, when it is necessary, be ready to defend its institutions and safeguard its borders.

Quite frequently an alien has been refused the privilege of naturalization because it has developed, through questioning by the presiding judge, that the applicant would refuse to take up arms in defense of his adopted country if necessity arose.

Related Subjects. The reader is referred to the following articles in these volumes:

Army Military Preparedness
Conscription War, Department of

[TC Rider]

I like to browse through old reference works to see how much the current occupants of the Ivory Towers have re-written history. Since the late 70s, foes of the Second Ammendment have blathered on about how the 2nd is all about the National Guard, nope, no rights to individual gun ownership, etc.

The preceding article is from an 1930 set of World Book Encyclopedias I've hauled around for years, and what it says is no different that what's written in any number of other reference works up through the 70s.

When I get a little more time, I'll scan what it has to say about the 2nd for another posting.

[Steel Wolf]

The Founding Fathers, by their numerous writings on the subject, clearly meant 'the militia' to mean average citizens with their own firearms, who would band together in time of need for mutual protection.

To that end, the Democrats, if they really wanted to stop our foriegn adventuring, should press to disband the current standing military, which the Founding Fathers were strongly against, and concede the 2nd Amdendment point once and for all. That would leave us with a system exactly as was intended. They'll never be able to stop both, so what if they simply went 'strictly by the intent of our Founders' to get half?

(I'm not necessarily advocating that point, but I think it would be an interesting world if we had no military organization stronger than the National Guard and Reserves, and a universally armed population.)

[TC Rider]

Could you send this to the bang list?

[the OlLine Rebel]

Not all were against a "standing army"; that was basically an anti-Federalist stance (albeit admittedly too many were scared to death because of their experiences w/British usage of troops). Washington wasn't - he knew how dreadful it was trying to conduct a war w/o it.

[beltfed308]

who are not under eighteen or over forty-five years of age.

So my RTKBA is over next year? /sarc

[green iguana]

Interesting from a historical perspective. I would surmise that the modern militia would consist of many past the age of 45 and able-bodied women also.

[Steel Wolf]

I'm sure that they weren't all against a standing army, and I can think of times in our history when not having one would be very detrimental. Still, I could very much envision a time now where we could disband most of our standing ground forces, but keep a strong Special Operations presence together for counterterrorism purposes. With a strong naval and air presence, we'd be safe from any conventional threat.

Just a crazy thought, I realize, but I wonder if the Founders, were they alive today, would still think it a good idea?

[absolootezer0]

depends on what the R stands for. 18-45 it should be REQUIREMENT.

[backtothestreets]

Good find. I'm including a link you may find interesting.

The National Guard has been served up to the ignorant public as the militia, but it raises an interesting question. Why do a majority of states have a militia AND National Guard units? (28 states by my count) Check it out!

http://sgaus.org/States.htm

I pointed out the lack of an organized militia as being the real reason Louisiana suffered such catastrophic human tragedy in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Unlike Alabama and Mississippi which have state militia members already living within the devastated communities ready to take charge, assess immediate needs, and use their training to secure their communities with some semblance of order, Louisiana residents were left waiting for assistance from people outside their devastated communities.

The National Guard is not a state militia. It is named "National for a reason. Well regulated militias are a necessary component for the safety and security of communities, not just from attack, but in times of natural disasters. Their members already know the communities they reside in, and are best suited to bring order and assistance until assistance can be sent from the centralized state, and/or federal government.

[the OlLine Rebel]

Our strength and peaceful nature over 200 years should be proof that there is nothing inherently wrong w/standing military. The problem is the laws (or lack of) behind those who control it.

[the OlLine Rebel]

No, it doesn't.

[TC Rider]

who are not under eighteen or over forty-five years of age.

So my RTKBA is over next year? /sarc

Back then, 45 was the pretty much the end of the line for adult men. Should be at least 65 today. (If not more)

[Simo Hayha]

Wasn't there also some kind of Militia Act early in our nation's history that required the keeping of arms in the house? For something as natural as the right to defend youself from harm, it's a pity that we have to go back and accumulate the data necessary to refute the idiots who argue that black is white, up is down, what's plainly there is non-existent, etc.

[TC Rider]

A view from 1930 of the militia, ping your RKBA list if you like.

[zeugma]

I like to browse through old reference works to see how much the current occupants of the Ivory Towers have re-written history. Since the late 70s, foes of the Second Ammendment have blathered on about how the 2nd is all about the National Guard, nope, no rights to individual gun ownership, etc.

I'm right there with you. I used to have an almost complete set of Encyclopaedia Brittannica (1903) that got lost in a move. Reading though it was quite interesting.