The Reality of Today’s Militias
My First Encounter
I never used to be aware of or believe in a Militia in America. I was naive, until I actually talked to its members and now better appreciate the fact that they are very real!
My first encounter came while I was going to the TDCJ Correctional Academy in deep East Texas.
I befriended a very outgoing class member who was very enthusiastic about being a correctional officer. He seemed like just another good old boy that I frequently meet throughout much of Texas. The “salt of the earth” as we sometimes say.
During our conversations about guns and shooting, he asked me if I would like to do some target practicing at his brothers shooting range, which was close to our academy.
The weekend came, and I followed him to the range, where I met his brother and his family. His wife was very pregnant at the time and they had several little ones running around, semi-clothed.
They lived in a cramped trailer house, that was very cluttered and in disaray. After meeting my new friends brother, we went out to the shooting range to plink a bit.
Now I am not the worst shot, even with a .357 Magnum six shooter. After observing the shooting skills of my new friends, I felt rather embarrassed
Now if you own your own shooting range, it stands to reason, you might be better than most when it comes to plinking. As it turns out, what these two gentelment could do with semi-auto and wheel guns was frighteningly good.
Targets were mounted on pulley system that pushed them across the range at a good clip. I emptied my Smith & Wesson Model 19, and all six cartridges missed.
I would have felt better if my two new East Texas boys had the same experience, but they were deadly accurate. I was both embarrassed and impressed.
After target practice, I was invited into the trailer to look at the stockpile of weapons inside. As it turned out, these fellas were ready for the day when America needed to be saved. The arsenal was impressive.
It also turned out that the owner of this private armory been previously employed as a corrections officer by the State, but let go for being a little over the top for his uses of force.
After some talking, I was more appreciative of the fact that these two Americans were true militia zelaots, who were part of a larger group preparing for civil war.
Now this occurred in early 2000, long before what we see happening in America with massive weapons sales and civil disobedience. However, it was post 9-11, which was a stark reminder that foreign powers were a very real threat to our sovereignty
My Second Encounter
Fast forward to 2007 when I was working and living in Gainesville, Texas were I had my second introduction to the reality of the American Militia movement.
As I was tooling around in Wal-Mart, I wondered into the sporting goods section and was looking at their selection of pistols and long-guns. Gainesville is great hunting country, and the Wal-Mart had an impressive collection of weapons and ammo.
This was long before Wal-Mart became politically correct and decided to stop selling handguns.
As I was looking at the stock, a raggedy looking, tall man in his late 30’s, wearing buckskin clothing with his pants tucked into the top of his cowboy boots approached me.
He started talking about America and how we all needed to be ready to defend our country when the time came. He then identified himself as Captain in a local Militia, and he was recruiting volunteers.
He told me that I did not have to have any military experience but just a willingness to be trained. Now mind you, this man did not crack a smile or give any indication that he was an actor in a wild west drama practicing his acting skills.
The gentlemen was genuine in his thoughts and beliefs about civil discord and his obligation as a Militia Man, to protect our country.
Now in this situation, like the prior one I mentioned, these good people were pretty covert. They feared the government and Big Brother interrupting their plans to organize.
Is It The Right Time For Social Justice Protests in 2020?
Fast forward to 2020 America. We see images of citizens armed openly with AR-15 and holstered handguns. We see police dressed in battle fatigues confronting protesters.
We hear from Black Lives Matter and White Supremacist groups who see each other as a threat to American survival.
We have the ingredients present now for the Militia Men to come forward. The average American does not have a clue about these folks because, like all secretive movements that fear the government, they hide.
The America we know today, is a fractured and divided America along religious, social, economic, and political lines. Our ability to negotiate, or find a middle ground on our beliefs and values is seriously absent.
Today’s enemy is not the foreign powers that attacked us during 9-11. We rallied forcefully and quickly to defend our America.
The Reality of Polarization in America
The time now is a dangerous one, because we have become polarized into camps where we see the other camp as our enemy.
Portland Oregon is the most recent example of this danger occurred when individuals who represent right wing extreme ideology came to Portland to confront the violence on the streets there as self appointed militia.
One lone individual arrived from out of state and shot several people. This “shooter” is being hailed as a hero by some conservative groups and villainized by liberal groups. He is now charged with murder.
I couldn’t help to wonder, “What if this “shooter” had showed up in one our schools?”
That horrible incident in Portland was soon followed by numerous vehicles of gun toting militia types showed up with high powered rifles and paintball guns.
That group claimed allegiance to Donald J. Trump, the current president of America.
Their motive was to somehow stop protesters. Local police, already stressed and stretched thin by many competing public safety demands in their city did not see these militia as either needed or wanted.
This new reality happening TODAY makes us much more open to Civil War. It also, makes us vulnerable to our very real external foreign enemies who understand that if we are drained by a domestic civil war, we will have much less ability to thwart their outside attacks on America.
Maybe the militias can claim victory in their localized domestic attacks but will they win the larger battles against a much more powerfully armed foreign enemy? Inconcebible you say?
Given how inconceivable today’s domestic warfare would have seemed immediately after 9-11, I would venture to say it is becoming very conceivable!
Covid 19 and the realities of economic chaos, are creating a perfect storm that will test our resolve to remain America The Beautiful.
