Bushmaster

[Plane]

There is no use for any such militia. Weapons are very expensive and complicated, They were used in the past to punish Indian raiders, and were somewhat useful in the War of 1812 and the Mexican-American  War. They were more a nuisance than a benefit in the Civil War, since they called up militiamen for periods of up to one year. When the time was up, they went home, whether the war was over or not. Sometimes they just up and quit. There was no serious penalty for desertion.

No one is going to reestablish any militias in this country unless we are invaded.

I see that the popularity of the inane film Red Dawn (in which the US is invaded by Nicaraguans and Cubans) has been remade. This time, we have been invaded by North Koreans.

Duh.

  I thought the state militias were big players on both sides of the civil war.

[BT]

Perhaps the modern equivalent of an unorganized militia is a posse or a search party, organized by the local authorities, usually the sheriff.

[Plane]

Perhaps the modern equivalent of an unorganized militia is a posse or a search party, organized by the local authorities, usually the sheriff.

Who does the sheriff call ?

Do sheriffs make lists of suitable citizens to call to assist in cases where the number gathered is a greater factor than the skill of each?

There has to be a minimum skill and also there have to be unwilling persons.

That list of the willing and able , yes that is a militia.

[sirs]

It can't be run by anyone that gets its marching orders or answers to the Government.  Defeats the whole purpose

[Xavier_Onassis]

I thought the state militias were big players on both sides of the civil war.

==========================================
They were for the first years, but the problem was that the militias did not have any way of forcing militiamen to stay in after the year was up. At the beginning of the Civil War, both sides believed that they would easily beat the other side and be home for Christmas.

As you may know, this did not happen.

After the Civil War, the Southern militias were disbanded and banned from reorganizing. The Northern militias were never reorganized in most states. The Missouri militias vanished entirely.

[BT]

Who does the sheriff call ?

Do sheriffs make lists of suitable citizens to call to assist in cases where the number gathered is a greater factor than the skill of each?

There has to be a minimum skill and also there have to be unwilling persons.

That list of the willing and able , yes that is a militia.

MY guess in the example i am thinking of the ones called would be those with knowledge of the lay of the land. Think lost hiker.

I would also guess that those with criminal records might not be on the call list.

[BT]

It can't be run by anyone that gets its marching orders or answers to the Government.  Defeats the whole purpose

Nonsense.

[sirs]

No, complete sense.  If one is being given orders by the Government, by definition they can't be defending the populace against that government.  Again, that's the whole idea behind the Bill of Rights. 

The organized portion of the militia IS the portion run by the Government.  They're the ones who are largely responsible for defending this nation against foreign invaders, or terrorists, who whoever. 

That's NOT the militia being referred to int ehd 2nd amendment however, as I've already explained.  The militia in the 2nd amendment can't be run by the Government.........unless you're saying these government employees have changed sides (in the event of an overt oppressive regime attempting to take root)  In that case, they're no longer taking their orders from the Government, so local folks, such as sherriffs and the sort can definately be considered part of that 2nd amendment militia

[BT]

No, complete sense.  If one is being given orders by the Government, by definition they can't be defending the populace against that government.  Again, that's the whole idea behind the Bill of Rights. 

The Bill of Rights limited federal government. That being the whole idea behind the Bill of Rights. Resisting an overreaching federal government would be a logical use of a state militia, organized or not.

Your statement was nonsense.

[Plane]

I can imagine a militia being formed and maintained by private concern , that might be a good description of Pinkerton.

But what does such an entity do to prevent the government from treating them as pirates?

Or what does happen when two militias of this sort clash?

Like Pinkerton and an armed coal mining union?

Oh wait , this stuff has happened a couple of times , we don't have to wonder.

[Xavier_Onassis]

The Pinkertons were hired as a goon squad to break up unions back in the 1920's. There is a film about it, Matewan, about the WV mining town of the same name.

The mining company cut wages and the miners went out on strike. The operators brought in scabs,and the scabs joined the miners.

The Pinkertons were not a militia, they were a hired goon army.

[BT]

Matewan was a John Sayles movie. I like his work.

He also did the Brother from Another Planet
and Eight Men Out.

[Plane]

The Pinkertons were hired as a goon squad to break up unions back in the 1920's. There is a film about it, Matewan, about the WV mining town of the same name.

The mining company cut wages and the miners went out on strike. The operators brought in scabs,and the scabs joined the miners.

The Pinkertons were not a militia, they were a hired goon army.

A hired goon squad doesn't qualify as militia?

What about an armed union?

[BT]

I would think that a militia would have to be called by a person with the legal authority to do so.

Union goons and paid muscle would not qualify, i wouldn't expect.

[Plane]

You might need to be diplomatic in your definition of a militia , if you are amoung them.

Does the second admendment directly state the authorising power of militia?