Understanding the Terrain

January 18, 2009 | Constitution, History

I was recently involved in a mildly heated debate about the Militia. As the media, and government have portrayed the Militia as a group of right-wing fanatics running around performing atrocities against minorities it was near impossible for me to break past the brainwashing.

From the responses I received, not only from the aforementioned debate, but also from people you would think know better, it may be required that I recite a brief explanation of the Constitution, and our inalienable rights.

There is enough documentation on the Original Intent of the Constitution for anyone to spend considerable time reading and understanding. However, the current education system does not allow for serious enlightenment upon which thoughtful debate may ensue.

The most important words in the Constitution are, ‘We the People of the United States’. It is our statement of fact that it is the people who have created this union, and we intend to secure liberty to our posterity and ourselves. It is not a creation of a royal family, or some religion. It is the work of all the people from the poor dirt farmer, to the men who signed their lives away on the Declaration of Independence.

What was it that we the people were attempting to do? The first thing that we wanted to accomplish was “to form a more perfect Union.” At the time there were thirteen separate colonies that had formed an association to fight off British Tyranny. Each had pledged their lives, and fortunes to the success of the Revolution. Now it was time to form a detailed alliance of like character under which the people of each state would enjoy a Republican form of government.

For those who became part of this more perfect union, they would “establish justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity…” It does not say that the government would provide these things anywhere that I know of besides the rambling illogic of the courts, and socialists determined to undermine the free state.

To further document the fact that it is our responsibility to enforce the laws and limit the participation of the government, we ordained a Constitution of limited powers granted to the government, and we forced the states to adhere to the doctrine through the Supremacy Clause, to which all elected, and appointed officials must swear an oath.

The concept of a limited government is so simple to me that I cannot understand the arguments that come from the courts, the legislators, and the average American. The government has few enumerated powers, and at the inception of the Constitution, it was the people’s directive that it would prevent an expansion of power not specifically passed by the will of the people.

Even to the point that the people retain all rights and powers, we, ourselves, are barred from making changes without the arduous process of the Amendment, or the Constitutional Convention. Unfortunately the federal government, and courts have done their best to corrupt this process by proclaiming the validation of amendments that may, or may have not properly been ratified.

For several decades now, most notably during the FDR administration, and presently at full force, those who detest the Constitution have been working to completely destroy it, and its rule. We the people have, through our own ignorance, left ourselves with no ability to redress our grievances.

There are a few out there who believe, and understand that the only solution to this problem is the revitalization of the Militia; the peoples law enforcement tool. At some point we must throw off the cloud, and realize that if we don’t act as the sovereign, those who have taken to the seats of power will remove each and every one of our inalienable rights. It is a future that I refuse to leave to the children of this country.

A proponent of revitalization of the Militia recently asked me to what end did I see the use of the organization in the state of New Jersey. While I answered from a personal view, that is a resident of the Garden State, it can apply to every state in the Union.

Over the last few years, New Jersey has become the most densely populated state in the Union. With a population that exceeds 8.6 million people, there are more than 1,100 people per square mile.

New Jersey has a substantial transportation system with commuter rail, buses, ferries, roadways, several small airports, and a major airport Newark Liberty International. In addition it has 5 major bridges, and a world-class seaport in Elizabeth.

New Jersey is home to major pharmaceutical firms such as Johnson and Johnson, Sanofi-Aventis, Novartis, Merck, Wyeth, Hoffman-LaRoche, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Schering-Plough. It is also known for its seashore resorts, which are visited by millions each year.

The state, within its own borders, also has the nefarious distinction of being one of the most corrupt states in the union. In addition it has an abysmal record on individual rights, and mandates of the Bill of Rights. The New Jersey Supreme Court has seen fit to prohibit access to a grand jury by the people of the state. It has also proclaimed that the individual must prove a worthiness to carry a firearm for self-protection, and must be licensed in order to even purchase a firearm.

Most repugnant to its stance on individual rights is the fact that the state does not believe the citizen has the right to defend under any circumstance. A home intrusion is not considered a life threatening experience under any circumstance.

Because of its dense population, industry, and peculiar stance on individual rights, New Jersey is a state rife with abuses perpetrated by the police, the courts, the schools, the legislature, and the executive.

Its dense population with its proclaimed ‘liberal’ agenda has created some of the most deadly neighborhoods in the country. Camden is typically among the most deadly in the country, while Newark, Patterson, and Trenton all have reputations as towns to avoid. The answer by way of an hysterical populace, and conspiring, and purposeful government is more police power, and more gun control.

With the fear of terrorism popping into the current American mindset, police and military appear as regular, or random patrols within the transportation system.

The Militia is the peoples tool “being necessary to the security of a free state”, bearing the arms that are “the American people’s liberty, teeth and keystone under independence.” It is also by Constitutional tenet, the only duly authorized law enforcement tool of the people.

If indeed this nation is a target of terrorism, then New Jersey represents a prime target with its pharmaceutical industry, population, transportation, and general infrastructure. The potential for disaster is great based on the reasons outlined for the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

If the threat of terrorism is indeed genuine, and the recent acts in Mumbai, India are any indication of what is to come, then New Jersey must admit that it would be ill prepared to deal with such attacks from the outset. And, if the conduct of police at Virginia Tech, and Columbine are to be expected then casualties will be high as unarmed citizens are slaughtered.

First, and foremost, the statements and actions of government are the most compelling reason for revitalizing the Militia in New Jersey.

If the propaganda dished out by our legislators, and administrators is to be believed then terrorists can, and will pop-up at any time, or any place. Merck, the giant pharmaceutical company, is right in the middle of Rahway, a highly populated area. While it may be able to muster its own security force, that force would certainly be out gunned by a well thought out plan to destroy the facility, which would cause untold damage to the area.

The head of security should have access to the local Militia head, upon whom Merck could engage in time of crisis. Any terrorist group that plans to make such an attempt would no longer be looking at a small security force, but a highly motivated local Militia unit whose homes and families are at stake. And in all likelihood some of the security force would be part of a Militia unit, and understand the workings, and be able to interact proficiently, instead of haphazardly.

The same scenario can be seen up and down the seaside community, where there are major hotels, where people are enjoying leisure time. In this case with the preponderance of armed Militia on the scene, as would be the case, a cohesive unit can easily be formed on the spot to stem a growing threat.

Places such as Camden present an interesting and vital need for a Well Regulated Militia. In so forming the Militia, a general accounting of those who are responsible, and in tune with the needs of the community would be readily available. I believe it is obvious that the criminal element would be easily weeded out once the role calls start. Those whose interests are not to the common good of the community would not be a likely part of the Militia structure, and there absence well known to those in charge, and in the general population. They should be under constant surveillance, and considerable stress from the locals who now have organization.

As for our ports, and major infrastructure, I call on history to make the case for the Militia. It is well known that in the past the ports of this country were somewhat under the control of the Mafia. During WWII, our government called upon those people to help police the ports. As a member of the Regulated Militia, a port worker would have a clearly defined course of action to take if he/she believed there was activity that might be considered threatening to the local, and more than likely his home community. By way of duty, and responsibility to the community, the Militia Man would react by rote.

For the darker side the need for the Militia is by way of actions taken by the police, legislature, and courts.

Several years ago the New Jersey Supreme Court, without constitutional tenor to support their action, prescribed that individuals could only receive a permit to carry by facing a prosecutor, the courts, and proving worthiness.

New Jersey also has a licensing scheme for obtaining and owning firearms. This system is routinely abused by localities, the state police, and even the Attorney General who typically apply their own rules, and constantly violate the 30-day parameter set for issuing the prescribed licenses, or permits.

The New Jersey State Supreme Court ruled that private citizens couldn’t go to the Grand Jury. Justice Barry Albin wrote,  “In some cases, a private person might be bent on pursuing an ill motive or vindictive agenda.” Albin’s comment discounts the fact that the state uses the grand jury for its purpose while corrupting the prescribed duty of the jury, which is meant as a stopgap to government abuses.

Albin’s comments imply that the government is incorruptible. Taking the Grand Jury away from the people also prevents the citizenry from taking action against agents of the state in an impartial environment. I believe that a duty of the Militia is to protect inalienable rights from government infringement, and to keep open the prescribed, and peaceful methodology for redress.

While I did not need to explain the workings of the Militia in my response, I feel it necessary to point out to the reader that the people, through the Militia, can execute the law of the land at any level.

If they see abuses by judges, police, legislators, or any so-called authority that demands of them unconstitutional acts; they can on site, arrest that person, or persons for what is clearly criminal acts against the people and the rule of law.

The Militia is all of us disposed to keeping the peace, and preventing a government run amuck with unlawful powers.

‘Nick’