PUBLIC VIEWPOINT: Militia Was Voluntary, County-Based Unit

Every time I think of the Cheshire, Conn., family in 2007, I think about unarmed families. I don’t know how anyone cannot remember the story of the rape, torture and burning deaths of a mom and her two daughters.

The only question I have for gun-free homes is if that were your family, what would you do? I know the answer: Nothing! Don’t expect the same from the rest of us.

Cops shoot until the alleged bad guy poses a threat no more, even if it takes 47 shots from multiple guns. Why do they need 47 and the rest of us only need seven?

Don’t worry, I only have one fully-automatic singleshot. But I like knowing that is my choice and not yours.

For those who believe the militia were National Guardsmen: The militia was a voluntary, county-based, part-time force for home defense. As well as fighting in the militia, its men held down regular jobs. The county militia was the blueprint for the government-controlled National Guard, established as a federally funded reserve component of the nation’s armed forces on Jan. 21, 1903, with the Militia Act of 1903.

It is not part of the Second Amendment.

The county-based militia were local people protecting local interests. I doubt gangs would be controlling some neighborhoods if the militias had not been demonized.

Even in a small area like ours, gangs are more than law enforcement can handle.

When there was a Second Amendment militia, it was organized and accountable to the locals and held to strict county laws. When and if they went rogue, they lost all community support and were placed on “Enemy Number One” status. This is not much different than reserve police officers becoming “legends in their own minds.” Some of us have known them.

RON GOODWIN

Cave Springs

Opinion, Pages 5 on 02/19/2013

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