Oklahoma tea party leaders consider forming volunteer militia (talking w/State Lawmakers)

The Oklahoman ^ | April 13, 2010 | Sean Murphy and Tim Talley

[2ndDivisionVet]

Frustrated by recent political setbacks, tea party leaders and some conservative members of the Oklahoma Legislature say they would like to create a new volunteer militia to help defend against what they believe are improper federal infringements on state sovereignty.

Tea party movement leaders say they’ve discussed the idea with several supportive lawmakers and hope to get legislation next year to recognize a new volunteer force. They say the unit would not resemble militia groups that have been raided for allegedly plotting attacks on law enforcement officers.

"Is it scary? It sure is,” said tea party leader Al Gerhart, of Oklahoma City, who heads an umbrella group of tea party factions called the Oklahoma Constitutional Alliance. "But when do the states stop rolling over for the federal government?”

Thus far, the discussions have been exploratory. Even the proponents say they don’t know how an armed force would be organized nor how a state-based militia could block federal mandates. Critics also asserted that the force could inflame extremism, and that the National Guard already provides for the state’s military needs.

"Have they heard of the Oklahoma City bombing?” said Joseph Thai, a constitutional law professor at the University of Oklahoma. The state observes the 15th anniversary of the anti-government attack on Monday. Such actions could "throw fuel in the fire of radicals,” he said.

But the militia talks reflect the frustration of some grassroots groups seeking new ways of fighting recent federal initiatives, such as the health reform plan, which requires all citizens to have health insurance. Over the last year, tea party groups across the country have staged rallies and pressured politicians to protest big government and demand reduced public spending.

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In strongly conservative states like Oklahoma, some legislators have also discussed further action to fight federal policies, such as state legislation and lawsuits.

State Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, a Republican candidate for governor who has appealed for tea party support, said supporters of a state militia have talked to him, and that he believes the citizen unit would be authorized under the Second Amendment to the Constitution.

The founding fathers "were not referring to a turkey shoot or a quail hunt. They really weren’t even talking about us having the ability to protect ourselves against each other,” Brogdon said. "The Second Amendment deals directly with the right of an individual to keep and bear arms to protect themselves from an overreaching federal government.”

Another lawmaker, state Rep. Charles Key, R-Oklahoma City, said he believes there’s a good chance of introducing legislation for a state-authorized militia next year.

Tea party leader J.W. Berry of the Tulsa-based OKforTea began soliciting interest in a state militia through his newsletter under the subject "Buy more guns, more bullets.”

"It’s not a far-right crazy plan or anything like that,” Berry said. "This would be done with the full cooperation of the state Legislature.”

State militias clearly are constitutionally authorized, but have not been used in recent times, said Glenn Reynolds, a law professor at the University of Tennessee and an expert on the Second Amendment. "Whether someone should get a militia to go toe-to-toe with the federal government … now, that strikes me as kind of silly,” he said.

Some conservative legislators in Oklahoma say talk of a militia, which would be privately recruited, armed and trained, goes too far.

"If the intent is to create a militia for disaster relief, we have the National Guard,” said Sen. Steve Russell, R-Oklahoma City, a retired Army lieutenant colonel. "Anything beyond that purpose should be viewed with great concern and caution.”

Democratic Gov. Brad Henry’s communications director Paul Sund also discounted the militia discussion, saying the National Guard handles state emergencies and security.

Federal authorities say that radical militia groups have not emerged in Oklahoma, unlike many other states, in part because of the legacy of the Oklahoma City bombing. On April 19, 1995, an anti-government conspiracy led by Army veteran Tim McVeigh exploded a bomb outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, leaving 168 people dead.

Last month, FBI agents conducted a raid on the Hutaree militia group in Michigan and accused members of plotting to kill law enforcement officers.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Comments?

[CaspersGh0sts]

This is just asking for trouble.

Not good politics. Not productive. Not the right time or place. This is a last resort move. And quite frankly, seccession makes far more sense than this (though it would be suicide for a state like Okalahoma all on its own).

[philman_36]

Why do you have a Democrat button on the lapel in your video?

[IrishCatholic]

Waaay beyond stupid. In fact, so far past the line you couldn’t find your way back.
Code Pink Stupid.
Voting for Barney Frank stupid.
Nominating Nancy Pelosi for Catholic of the Year stupid.
Expecting Nationalized health care to bring down costs stupid.

It causes permanent genetic damage stupid.

Worse, it marginalizes non stupid TEA Party people across the nation and serves up a softball for the entire media structure stupid.

It’s stupid.

[philman_36]

U.S. and Texas Law on Independent Militias
Conclusions
Present U.S. and Texas law clearly fail to implement the requirements for organizing and training the Militia established by the Framers. However, we must also recognize that this failure goes all the way back to 1792, and that such organizing and training are, therefore, left to the people themselves, in the form of independent local militias, which they have a constitutional duty to maintain in a high state of preparedness, even if they get little support from the authorities, and indeed, especially if they get opposition from the authorities.

[FormerACLUmember]

Big mistake.

[plinyelder]

Did I miss something?

Who is jellybean?

[Ingtar]

I wish I could find a job in Oklahoma now.

[kcvl]

"Have they heard of the Oklahoma City bombing?” said Joseph Thai, a constitutional law professor at the University of Oklahoma. The state observes the 15th anniversary of the anti-government attack on Monday. Such actions could "throw fuel in the fire of radicals,” he said.

[The Cajun]

Whooo wheeee, panties are fixing to get bunched up over this.

[IamCenny]

Because the legal system and talking has worked for the past year and a half(rounding up). /s

[Windflier]

So, it finally comes out into the light of day. Folks have been wondering what the “next step” would be for the Tea Party movement, and here it is.

I see that a lot of posters on the thread think this is a stupid idea. I couldn’t disagree more. This is precisely where the patriotic resistance needs to go at this time.

We are now enduring a level of oppression undreamed of by the Founders, and those patriots who risked everything, including life itself, to break free of the tyranny they were faced with.

I would ask that everyone here take a deep breath and read what one of our Founding Fathers had to say about defense of our God-given rights before they denounce this idea:

“Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established, should not be changed for light and transient causes; and, accordingly, all experience [has] shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But, when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce [the people] under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.” —Thomas Jefferson: Declaration of Independence, 1776. ME 1:29, Papers 1:429

“Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God.” —Thomas Jefferson: his motto.

“The oppressed should rebel, and they will continue to rebel and raise disturbance until their civil rights are fully restored to them and all partial distinctions, exclusions and incapacitations are removed.” —Thomas Jefferson: Notes on Religion, 1776. Papers 1:548

“As revolutionary instruments (when nothing but revolution will cure the evils of the State) [secret societies] are necessary and indispensable, and the right to use them is inalienable by the people.” —Thomas Jefferson to William Duane, 1803. FE 8:256

[NTHockey]

>>Frustrated by recent political setbacks<<

Did I miss something? What setbacks? Is he talking about 0bambiCare? It has not gone into effect. Other legislation, like Crap & Trade, amnesty, bank bailouts may be pending but I don’t know what the writer is talking about.

BTW, state militias formed to protect the citizens of the state are an excellent idea.

[forgotimareble]

i agree save it for seccession. it will be far better to get wait a while longer and if certain laws are repealed and or rewritten then its time to leave the union and start a new. this will bring shame and dishearten slot of tea party members. i myself would never raise a hand toward my government. but if there is no choice left then so be it

[Doug Loss]

Very few people seem to realize that such organizations are legitimately authorized under Title 32, Section 109 of the United States Code. This isn't a new idea; the general term for this is "state guard," as opposed to "national guard." Look here: State Guard Association of the United States.

[CriticalJ]

Wow.

[sergeantdave]

Get a grip.

About two dozen states have a state-organized militia. This one in SC is under command of the governor. And no it’s NOT the state national guard.

http://www.scsg4th.org/join.htm

[Coldwater Creek]

ping

[JimRed]

If they form a (formal) militia they open the door for charges that they are “domestic terrorists”. Any such militia should be formed in secret, because when the SHTF you don’t want the Marxist’s minions to know who to come after first.

[JimRed]

"Whether someone should get a militia to go toe-to-toe with the federal government … now, that strikes me as kind of silly,” he said.

Going toe to toe with the federal government would be futile. Ambush, assassination and sabotage are more effective; just look at Iraq and Afghanistan.