Okla. tea parties and lawmakers envision militia

[Johnny Bravo]

  By SEAN MURPHY and TIM TALLEY, Associated Press Writers Sean Murphy And Tim Talley, Associated Press Writers   – 2 hrs 15 mins ago

OKLAHOMA CITY – Frustrated by recent political setbacks, tea party leaders and some conservative members of the Oklahoma Legislature say they would like to create a new volunteer militia to help defend against what they believe are improper federal infringements on state sovereignty.

Tea party movement leaders say they've discussed the idea with several supportive lawmakers and hope to get legislation next year to recognize a new volunteer force. They say the unit would not resemble militia groups that have been raided for allegedly plotting attacks on law enforcement officers.

"Is it scary? It sure is," said tea party leader Al Gerhart of Oklahoma City, who heads an umbrella group of tea party factions called the Oklahoma Constitutional Alliance. "But when do the states stop rolling over for the federal government?"

Thus far, the discussions have been exploratory. Even the proponents say they don't know how an armed force would be organized nor how a state-based militia could block federal mandates. Critics also asserted that the force could inflame extremism, and that the National Guard already provides for the state's military needs.

"Have they heard of the Oklahoma City bombing?" said Joseph Thai, a constitutional law professor at the University of Oklahoma. The state observes the 15th anniversary of the anti-government attack on Monday. Such actions could "throw fuel in the fire of radicals," he said.

But the militia talks reflect the frustration of some grass roots groups seeking new ways of fighting recent federal initiatives, such as the health reform plan, which requires all citizens to have health insurance. Over the last year, tea party groups across the country have staged rallies and pressured politicians to protest big government and demand reduced public spending.

In strongly conservative states like Oklahoma, some legislators have also discussed further action to fight federal policies, such as state legislation and lawsuits.

State Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, a Republican candidate for governor who has appealed for tea party support, said supporters of a state militia have talked to him, and that he believes the citizen unit would be authorized under the Second Amendment to the Constitution.

The founding fathers "were not referring to a turkey shoot or a quail hunt. They really weren't even talking about us having the ability to protect ourselves against each other," Brogdon said. "The Second Amendment deals directly with the right of an individual to keep and bear arms to protect themselves from an overreaching federal government."

Another lawmaker, state Rep. Charles Key, R-Oklahoma City, said he believes there's a good chance of introducing legislation for a state-authorized militia next year.

Tea party leader J.W. Berry of the Tulsa-based OKforTea began soliciting interest in a state militia through his newsletter under the subject "Buy more guns, more bullets."

"It's not a far-right crazy plan or anything like that," Berry said. "This would be done with the full cooperation of the state Legislature."

State militias clearly are constitutionally authorized, but have not been used in recent times, said Glenn Reynolds, a law professor at the University of Tennessee and an expert on the Second Amendment. "Whether someone should get a militia to go toe-to-toe with the federal government ... now, that strikes me as kind of silly," he said.

Some conservative legislators in Oklahoma say talk of a militia, which would be privately recruited, armed and trained, goes too far.

"If the intent is to create a militia for disaster relief, we have the National Guard," said Sen. Steve Russell, R-Oklahoma City, a retired Army lieutenant colonel. "Anything beyond that purpose should be viewed with great concern and caution."

Democratic Gov. Brad Henry's communications director Paul Sund also discounted the militia discussion, saying the National Guard handles state emergencies and security.

Federal authorities say that radical militia groups have not emerged in Oklahoma, unlike many other states, in part because of the legacy of the Oklahoma City bombing. On April 19, 1995, an anti-government conspiracy led by Army veteran Tim McVeigh exploded a truckbomb outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, killing 168 people.

Last month, FBI agents conducted a raid on the Hutaree militia group in southern Michigan and accused members of plotting to kill law enforcement officers.

[tombogan03884]

Many States already have "State Guard" Militia's.
If there is any expense to the state at all they will probably shoot it down.
That was the excuse used here.

[fightingquaker13]

This is pure sillyness. As the man said, the NG is prepared for natural disasters or riots. Going toe to toe with the feds? Assuming any one would actually show up, well.....gee, that's a mighty keen AK you have there Beaver, may I introduce you to my AH-64, or my M1-Abrahms? Get over it. If Serious resistance to the feds ever becomes necessary, look at the Al Queda manual or just watch the ultimate how-to video on guerilla warfare. Its a French film called "The Battle of Algiers". Along with Saul Alynskiy's "Rules for Radicals" (150 pages of easy to read no BS lessons in making serious trouble) its required reading for any serious mal-content. The first rule of fight club?  Don't talk about fight club, and so it gooes. I am a very long way from advocating armed resitance. In fact, I am solidly on George Washington and Abe Lincoln's side when they put down armed insurrection hard. Still, if it ever becomes necessary, you won't win by playing soldier. You may have a chance by playing revolutionary/terrorist. Spend less time studying SOCOM manuals and more time reading Antonio Gramsci, Michael Collins, Fidel Castro, Dave Barry (not the humorist, but the author of "Guerilla Days in Ireland"), and the collective works of your friendly neighborhood jihadist. You will not win on the battle field. You MIGHT win by making the country ungovernable. I will side with the feds and be shooting at you unless the government crosses lines they haven't even looked at yet, but I still feel compelled as a teacher to offer my best advice. Take it or leave it.
FQ13

[tombogan03884]

Thank God, finally one I can disagree with. I was starting to think the "Body snatchers had gotten FQ.  
Gramski I am not familiar with. Castro got lucky in Cuba, Che tried to repeat that formula in Africa and South America and got killed for it. Collins, Barry, (Who if I remember correctly was IRA Chief of Staff ) are good, as are Sun Tzu, Mao, and George Hayduke.
FQ is unarguably right in his approach, no nation has ever defeated the US military, every time we have been stymied it has been by unconventional forces, from the Seminoles in Florida , other Indian wars, Philippines, Vietnam etc.