Armed Right-Wing Groups Aren’t ‘Militias’—We Need to Stop Calling Them That

[ZiprHead]

https://time.com/5905374/armed-rightwing-groups-are-not-militia/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=social-share-article&utm-term=ideas_extremism&fbclid=IwAR1okagVjjzSs_ERdeLxpjJ4qfrSIWvexlUtAnTQr0G8_jnUlP4GpNqzYfA

Over the last month, ever since the indictment of 13 men for plotting to kidnap the governor of Michigan, the word “militia” has appeared in thousands of newspaper headlines and TV news reports. The Detroit News: “Feds Say They Thwarted Militia Plot to Kidnap Whitmer.” NPR: “FBI Says Militia Plotted To Kidnap Michigan Governor.” ABC-12: “Militia Members Accused in Whitmer Kidnapping Face Life in Prison.” But all of these headlines are wrong, and almost every instance of the use of the word militia by journalists—as well as politicians and even law enforcement—has been wrong. Why? Because there is no such thing as a legal private paramilitary militia.

But don’t take it from me, here’s Mary McCord, a former Justice department official who is the legal director of the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University: “The use of the word ‘militia,’ when you are talking about anything other than a state militia like the National Guard, is just wrong. Using that term without putting the world ‘unlawful’ in front of it suggests there is some constitutional authority or legitimacy for their existence, which there isn’t.”

Let’s say it again, and now let’s make sure that governors and state attorneys general and law enforcement pay attention: All 50 states prohibit private militias. They are illegal. Such organizations were banned starting with the Militia Act of 1903, and then amended by the National Defense Acts of 1920 and 1933. That legislation stated that all “able-bodied residents available to be called forth in defense of the state” were now members of the United States National Guard, which is part of the reserve components of the U.S. Army and Air Force. They are the militia. Period.

 

[T.G.G. Moogly]

We should obviously be using the word "vigilantes" or better "right wing vigilantes."

"Right wing mob" is more accurate.

 

[Patooka]

Most of them fantasize about targeting government and civilian structures/organizations to further their political aims.

Last time I checked, that was the text book definition of a terrorist.

 

[TV and credit cards]

Vigilante, terrorist, even gang would need to be earned by their actions. Until then, they are extremist groups.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

You can be both a militia and a vigilante.

And most of the loonies aren't even militias.

 

[Gun Nut]

We should obviously be using the word "vigilantes" or better "right wing vigilantes."

"Right wing mob" is more accurate.

I prefer the term "terrorist", since that is what they are... marching with body armor and guns (and using them) to impose fear into those that would oppose their goals. If they are not terrorists, then who is?... not the "freedom fighters" that took down the world trade center either, then.

 

[Gun Nut]

Vigilante, terrorist, even gang would need to be earned by their actions. Until then, they are extremist groups.

Vigilante would imply they are enforcing a law in some way.
Gang is an understatement... they are an organized group... but they are also individuals... so they are "people" too. not descriptive.
Terrorist is most inclusive of their actions. The intent and purpose of their actions are to impose fear of them taking their idea of the law into their own hands... and there are plenty of news articles about them doing exactly that... illegally and at the harm of others.
If I just got it into my head that you are a murderer, because I read something from some nut on the internet... and I go and kill you (stopping another murder would be defensible use of deadly force), then I guess I should only be charged with being a vigilante.. practicing law without a license.. but not murder, oh no.

 

[ZiprHead]

 

[ronburgundy]

"Terrorists" applies, even simply by the act of brandishing a gun as part of a political demonstration. Such an act is the epitome of threatening violence, and doing so to achieve political compliance is terrorism.

The fact that every person who showed up to the polls or vote counting centers with a gun isn't in jail right now is absurd and shows the criminal refusal to perform their duty of law enforcement in those areas. No matter state and local gun laws, that action is a clear violation of Federal election laws.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

"Terrorists" applies, even simply by the act of brandishing a gun as part of a political demonstration. Such an act is the epitome of threatening violence, and doing so to achieve political compliance is terrorism.

The fact that every person who showed up to the polls or vote counting centers with a gun isn't in jail right now is absurd and shows the criminal refusal to perform their duty of law enforcement in those areas. No matter state and local gun laws, that action is a clear violation of Federal election laws.

Yup, they have been going with terror tactics. Look at all the people who have resigned because they felt unsafe after opposing the GOP. Those are all terrorist victories.

 

[SimpleDon]

They are all victims of their own bigotries. Conservatives truly believe that the people they fear want to take over the government to treat conservatives as badly as conservatives have treated the people they fear.

They are victims of their own propaganda. Conservatives truly believe that liberals want to turn the US into a failed socialistic state like Venezuela. Conservatives truly believe that liberals want to stop funding the police and the military, leaving the US defenseless to foreign and domestic threats. Conservatives truly believe that liberals want to destroy our health care system by making it a government program like Medicare, which, confusingly, many conservatives are on and accept. Conservatives truly believe that liberals control the "Democrat" (sic) Party and even the party's moderates like the president-elect.

I learned these things by watching television in Georgia. We are treated to a seemingly unending barrage of political commercials leading up to the two Senate elections' run-offs.

As a result of all the things that Conservatives believe they voted for and against and thanks to the anti-democratic, small "d" electoral college, they elected to the presidency the biggest threat to the security and the health and wellbeing of the American people ever in history. All to continue the massive shift of income from the non-rich to the rich, which is not too surprisingly not mentioned at all in the liberal-bashing political commercials from our two billionaire Senators.

 

[jab]

"Terrorists" applies, even simply by the act of brandishing a gun as part of a political demonstration. Such an act is the epitome of threatening violence, and doing so to achieve political compliance is terrorism.

The fact that every person who showed up to the polls or vote counting centers with a gun isn't in jail right now is absurd and shows the criminal refusal to perform their duty of law enforcement in those areas. No matter state and local gun laws, that action is a clear violation of Federal election laws.

Yup, they have been going with terror tactics. Look at all the people who have resigned because they felt unsafe after opposing the GOP. Those are all terrorist victories.

perhaps by Feb. 2021, the American media will rediscover the very useful and accurate term: "domestic terrorist(s)"

 

[Loren Pechtel]

"Terrorists" applies, even simply by the act of brandishing a gun as part of a political demonstration. Such an act is the epitome of threatening violence, and doing so to achieve political compliance is terrorism.

The fact that every person who showed up to the polls or vote counting centers with a gun isn't in jail right now is absurd and shows the criminal refusal to perform their duty of law enforcement in those areas. No matter state and local gun laws, that action is a clear violation of Federal election laws.

Yup, they have been going with terror tactics. Look at all the people who have resigned because they felt unsafe after opposing the GOP. Those are all terrorist victories.

perhaps by Feb. 2021, the American media will rediscover the very useful and accurate term: "domestic terrorist(s)"

They haven't applied that to the covidiots that are driving people out of office.

 

[Derec]

"Terrorists" applies, even simply by the act of brandishing a gun as part of a political demonstration.

Would you apply that standards to left-wing armed groups like the black militias "Not Fucking Around Coalition" or the "New Black Panther Party"?

Or only to armed white people?


And quite apart from race, let's look at political ideology? Why is Zipr singling out right wing armed groups? A leftist armed group in Portland had just occupied a city block on behalf of a sovereign citizen (sovereign citizens believe the laws of the US do not apply to them) and Mayor DIckless not only caved but apologized to them. What a chickenshit! And of course, none of the armed occupiers will be prosecuted because the Multnomah County DA is supportive of Antifa.

 

[Rhea]

"Terrorists" applies, even simply by the act of brandishing a gun as part of a political demonstration.

Would you apply that standards to left-wing armed groups like the black militias "Not Fucking Around Coalition" or the "New Black Panther Party"?

Or only to armed white people?

He clearly didn’t specify only one race, so whence the question?

 

[Derec]

He clearly didn’t specify only one race, so whence the question?

Because when I mentioned black militias in another thread most posters were supportive of them but at the same time opposed to white militias. I was just wondering if ron shared the same double standard or not. Speaking of which, what about you? What is your opinion of black militias like NFAC or other left-wing armed groups like Antifa in Portland?

 

[Swammerdami]

Wikipedia's  Militia describes the Sturmabteilung ("brown-shirts") as a Nazi Party militia, but those thugs wore uniforms and gave each other pretended military ranks.

"Trumpist terrorists" seems as good a description as any. IIUC the only "uniforms" they wear are caps and shirts with oafish slogans. "Orange-shirts" won't work: I think they despise their leader's color. In the future, "MAGA-hatter" will be the shorthand name for this ilk, but it won't do now to offend the millions of Americans who wear that hat out of stupidity as much as due to their raw hatreds.

 

[Derec]

Wikipedia's  Militia describes the Sturmabteilung ("brown-shirts") as a Nazi Party militia, but those thugs wore uniforms and gave each other pretended military ranks.

What that wiki article doesn't mention are left-wing militias like  Roter Frontkämpferbund which like Antifaschsitische Aktion was allied with the Communist Party and like SA had quasi-military organization and ranks.

Fun fact: The unit "Gruppe" (group) in SA/SS meant something like Division and the Gruppenführer akin to a General. But TIL that in RFKB Gruppe was a mere squad and Gruppenführer an equivalent of a sergeant. Now I have a new title for squad-leader AOC, "Gruppenführerin"

 

[Loren Pechtel]

"Terrorists" applies, even simply by the act of brandishing a gun as part of a political demonstration.

Would you apply that standards to left-wing armed groups like the black militias "Not Fucking Around Coalition" or the "New Black Panther Party"?

Or only to armed white people?


And quite apart from race, let's look at political ideology? Why is Zipr singling out right wing armed groups? A leftist armed group in Portland had just occupied a city block on behalf of a sovereign citizen (sovereign citizens believe the laws of the US do not apply to them) and Mayor DIckless not only caved but apologized to them. What a chickenshit! And of course, none of the armed occupiers will be prosecuted because the Multnomah County DA is supportive of Antifa.

What you are describing is wrongful but isn't about using fear to make people do what you want, thus it is not terrorism.