by Timothy Baldwin
April 2, 2010
Mainstream media has recently reported the story of the alleged “Militia” group in Michigan which supposedly had plans of killing police officers as a sort of “freedom task”–in the name of Jesus Christ no less. In reality, “This is a group that [is] neither a militia [n]or a Christian group.”[1] This is not the first highlight of news where the media has misused the concept of a “militia” as a representation of everything evil and insane. Virtually every mainstream reference of “militia” today implicates terrorism, anti-American and wacko-extremists–right along with those Al Qaeda terrorists who are attempting to destroy America just because “we are free.”
From 1776 to 2010, the concept of a militia has been turned completely on its head. What was once seen as a necessary component of maintaining and protecting freedom against attacks by a tyrannical domestic government is now seen as a disgusting roach that must be stomped out of existence. Am I suggesting that some of these people who would classify themselves as a “militia” group are legitimately sound and constitute the real purpose of a militia? No. Just as I do not suggest that doctors who perform abortions upon the mother’s mere “choice” constitute actual doctors whose first purpose of treatment is to “do no harm.” We all know that a few people can give a bad name to the rest. What I am talking about here is manipulation to further enslave the people of the States, and empower those who control the federal government and global agenda.
There is without doubt a push and agenda by elitists, major media, politicians, and revolutionaries (who despise the ideals held by our founding generation) against the concept of a Second Amendment militia–one whose purpose is to provide for the protection of freedom within the state by citizens of that state: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”[2]
Particularly, in context of this amendment, the ratifiers were sure to express that militias were to secure a free “State” (singular)–not a free “United States” (plural). Those who attempt to strip the significance and application of militias by replacing “militia” with the “U.S. military” are, quite frankly, ignorant of America’s history and constitutional government or are deceitful and manipulative for a certain agenda. As expressed throughout the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers, the people were more scared of a standing U.S. military than they were the U.S. Supreme Court.
To our founding generation, the importance of a well-regulated militia could not have been overstated or overrated. Indeed, the existence and maintenance of well-regulated militias were not only recognized as being necessary for a “free State,” as expressed in the second amendment, but also were considered a duty of each State:
“The roots of [the Second Amendment] strike down in to the past until they reach the Assize of Arms of Henry II (1181), whereby the old constitutional force was reorganized by the duty being imposed upon every free man, for the defense of the state, to provide himself arms according to his means.”[3]
Of course, the underlying presumption and foundation for the implementation of well-regulated militias was the evil inherent in human nature–particularly those who possess political power. They recognized that these militias would not only serve a practical effect of resistance against tyrants, but also a mental effect of inhibition.
The founding generation had personally experienced the efforts of Great Britain to disarm the people of the colonies. They knew the potential reality that government would attempt to disarm the people and eliminate the militias so that the people would be good little subjects to the government. To tyrants, obedience is all that is required to be a good citizen.
Founding Father George Mason’s daughter described this American experience and observed the evil of “gradual slavery” perpetrated by “their” government in Great Britain. She says:
“When the resolution of enslaving America was formed in Great Britain, the British Parliament was advised by an artful man [Sir William Keith] who was governor of Pennsylvania, to disarm the people; that it was the best and most effectual way to enslave them; but that they should not do it openly, but weaken them, and let them sink gradually, by totally disusing and neglecting the militia.”[4]
Not much has changed since 1775 and 1776, because human nature never changes. So, it is no wonder why the second amendment was insisted upon, such that the federal government had no power to forbid militias or prevent the armament of the people of the States. Militias were in fact what stood between freedom and tyranny, in the minds of our founding generation.
Acknowledging the existence and strength of the citizens’ militia in 1787, Alexander Hamilton even found it hard to believe that the federal government would ever usurp power not granted to it by the people of the States because of well-regulated militias (one of the presumptions for the states ratifying the constitution). Hamilton observes: “dangers [from the federal government] so formidable can[not] assail the whole Union…if we take into our view the aid to be derived from the militia.”[5]
Compare today, where anyone who suggests that the states need well-regulated militias strong enough to defend their state from the potential of U.S. military force would be labeled as a terrorist or extremist and would perhaps end up in prison like these arrested in Michigan. Like Sir William Keith, who betrayed the freedom of the colonists for the sake of empowering Great Britain, there are betrayers, instigators and propagators doing the federal government’s bidding today.
Understanding how this agenda has been successful is no wonder. Consider the sources used and implemented by the media, law enforcement and the federal government concerning militias and other “hate groups”: sources that are proposed as being “credible,” like the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), which allegedly “monitors hate groups and other fringe organizations.”[6] Advocacy groups like this are the same groups which feed information to fusion centers throughout American concerning “hate groups,” and these fusion centers are the same governmental agencies that create reports such as the highly-suspect “MIAC” report, which suggested that supporters of Chuck Baldwin, Ron Paul and Bob Barr should be watched closely as potential terrorists.[7]
And so the manipulation takes hold into every fabric of society. This understanding is easy enough to grasp considering that millions of American do very little independent thinking (if at all); do very little or no study concerning principles of freedom and American and world history (and I’m not talking about books written by Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and the like); conduct little or no research of their own concerning what they hear on CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, etc. When Americans hear a story about a crazy “militia” group in Michigan and then hear a fusion center report about Chuck Baldwin, Ron Paul or Bob Barr being leaders of terrorist mentality, they easily make the logical leap: militia equals bad; Chuck Baldwin equals bad; Ron Paul equals bad; firearms equal bad; state sovereignty equals bad. Don’t even suggest to them that a State actually maintain a well-regulated militia for second amendment purposes!
These tactics of delusion and manipulation are obvious and their purposes are known. They go right along with the agenda to strip this country, these states and these people of all effective and meaningful means by which independence, self-government, limited government, constitutional government, state sovereignty, individual sovereignty, and natural rights and freedom are secured.
So, what is the effect of this purpose-driven manipulation? I recently had a person email me in response to my article, “National ID: Who Will Resist?” in context of this recent Michigan “militia” arrest story. In his email, he expresses his trepidation of the federal government as a result of their prosecuting this alleged “militia” group, saying: “Are you kidding? Resist that? You will lose….Find a different way.” And so the federal government parades: Goal accomplished! Thankfully, not everyone thinks this way.
Let us theorize for a moment: what if a state revives a state militia, for the sole and expressed purposes of defending that state against foreign and domestic tyranny and usurpations, as expressed in the second amendment? What if three-fourths of the states deny this state the right of protecting its freedom, independence and sovereignty through a well-regulated militia? What if the federal government attempts to shut the militia operation down and criminally prosecutes those participating?
As I have repeatedly stated, the States in America are choosing (and will be forced to choose) which path they are going to take: the road to freedom or tyranny? Some will choose the path of truth and freedom. Others will choose the path of manipulation, lies and slavery. And so the principles of limited government may be able to thrive once again in those states that choose freedom.
Let us get this straight at least: if we do not have a generation of people in the States that are willing to do what our founding generation did in securing freedom, then how dare we claim to love them, their ideas and what they attempted to bequeath to us. Just as in generations past, “it has grown the fashion to praise the men of former times but to deny their ideal of Independence.”[8] Praising our founders does nothing to preserve freedom.
To such a slothful attitude and philosophy, perhaps the following statement is appropriate: “Why, had we resigned without a struggle that which our ancestors encountered every danger to win, who would not have spit on you?”[9] Indeed, if our founding generation had the opportunity to spit on us, it is doubtful that they would find it worth their time to indulge us so.
It is past time that the people of these States get a grip of reality concerning the “course of human affairs,” in which we live. It is time that men become men, who are willing to both live and die for freedom. Quit pandering and cowering to these manipulations and threats perpetuated by anti-freedomists. Insist that your state legislators, governors and sheriffs uphold their oath to the Constitution by resisting unconstitutional federal actions. In truth, insist that your state and county officials (and candidates) implement and resurrect the second amendment as it was designed: TO PROTECT YOUR “FREE STATE”!
Footnotes:
1, CNN Wire Staff, Militia Arrests Timed To Prevent Violence, CNN News, (March 31, 2010)
2, United States Constitution, Second Amendment.
3, Hannis Taylor, The Origin and Growth of the American Constitution, (Boston and New York: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1911), 232–233.
4, Kate Mason Rowland and General Fitzhugh Lee, intro., The Life of George Mason, 1725–1792, vol. 2, (New York: G. P. Putnam’s Sons, 1802), 409.
5, Alexander Hamilton, Federalist Paper 26.
6, CNN Wire Staff, Militia Arrests Timed To Prevent Violence, CNN News, (March 31, 2010)
7, Americans for Legal Immigration PAC, Missouri MIAC Documents Scandal Leads to Advisory on SPLC & ADL, (March 26, 2009)
8, Terence MacSwiney, Principles of Freedom, (New York, NY, E.P. Dutton & Co., 1921), 242.
9, Terence MacSwiney, Principles of Freedom, (New York, NY, E.P. Dutton & Co., 1921), 239.
© 2010 Timothy N. Baldwin – All Rights Reserved
Gill Rapoza
Veritas Vos Liberabit
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