Vigilante, or Not?

 Today I saw a meme depicting the 376 motionless members of the police department at Uvalde during the active shooter casualty event. It also showed the one young man who stood up more recently to an active shooter. 

It's a rather clear picture, even by words, isn't it?

Then I considered what some people may say or think concerning the one individual who took action. I have not read, nor seen video of any of the original documents or videos from either event. I have seen some internet comments and, of course, the noted meme. The following is personal opinion and should not be construed as if I were speaking legally.

Two words came immediately to mind, Militia and Vigilante. Do not get the two confused.

According to the South Carolina state constitution:

ARTICLE XIII.

MILITIA

SECTION 1. Militia.

"The militia of this State shall consist of all able-bodied male citizens of the State between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years, except such persons as are now or may be exempted by the laws of the United States or this State, or who from religious scruples may be adverse to bearing arms, and shall be organized, officered, armed, equipped and disciplined as the General Assembly may by law direct."

Emphasis on shall is by me. The consideration is, under law, Shall is not optional as in May. In other words, if you live in South Carolina and are able bodied between the ages of 18 and 45, you ARE the militia, unless ruled exempt.

Vigilante is a group of a different bent. They are defined as a member of a self-appointed group of citizens who undertake law enforcement in their community without legal authority, typically because the legal agencies are thought to be inadequate. (Note: they operate without legal authority. Most notably, they take justice into their own hands by trying, convicting, and executing.)

The legal authority of militia stems from centuries of law before the constitutions of the various colonies came into existence. Once those colonies became states under the US Constitution, they retained all rights of militia organization and regulation because those rights were never part of the national constitution. The only mention of the militia within the body of the US Constitution refers to the right of the President to call up such a force to deal with treason, insurrection, and anarchy. The 2nd Amendment leaves the militia to the people.

Another initial intent of the founders little known to Americans today, requires the legal system of the Grand Jury to request the militia to arrest based upon fact and evidence, sorely lacking in the instance of vigilantes. And the militia has no authority to convict under civil law. That belongs to the courts.

To bring this back to full circle, the one lone gunman acting to preserve life guaranteed by the constitutions of the various states' laws (see right to use deadly force) wasn't acting as a vigilante. His state gave him the right to act to preserve life, as I understand it, through the castle doctrine.

There will likely be more discussion, evidence, legal opinions, and such during the next few months concerning Uvalde and other instances of US Citizens, militia members, and police interacting with aberrant shooters.

God, repeatedly...

 30 March 1863

"...rest humbly in the hope authorized by the Divine teachings, that the united cry of the nation will be heard on high and answered with blessing no less than the pardon of our national sins and the restoration of our new divided and suffering country to its former happy condition of unity and peace."

There are those who realize history repeats itself. There are those who realize the trials of history stem from a rebellious lot falling away from the Spirit of love, peace, and a sound mind guaranteed by God if only we'd go back to Him.

This passage from Abraham Lincoln should sound like it came from your preacher last Sunday, or yesterday. Read it today and consider how far we've fallen. Then pick yourself back up and get back on the trail of God's love. Never been there? See John 3:16.

Militia/Minutemen not Army

 

Proverbs 18:3

When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; and with dishonor comes reproach.

 

From the American Patriots Bible (NKJV), Thomas Nelson, Publisher

 

Honor…

“…with dishonor comes contempt”

The Minutemen

In 1774, the Massachusetts Provincial Congress reorganized the Massachusetts militia, providing that one-fourth of the entire militia was made up of “Minutemen”—patriots who vowed to be ready to fight at a minute’s notice. The Massachusetts Provincial Congress charged the Minutemen:

                "You…are placed by Providence in the post of honor because it is the post of danger. The eyes not only of North America and the whole British Empire, but of all Europe, are upon you. Let us be, therefore, altogether solicitous that no disorderly behavior, nothing unbecoming our characters as Americans, as citizens and Christians, be justly chargeable to us."

Please note that even though the militia was reorganized to include Minutemen, they remained militia and not employees of the state.

National Guard is not the Militia

 The National Guard came into existence in 1916. The militia (citizens armed for protection of their communities) have always been a part of English law, with the exception of Charles I’s reign when he reversed all previous law. It led to his demise after 1-1/2 years on the throne. 

Militia are citizens, and in virtually every states’  constitution are identified only by “able bodied” with a weapon, training in its use, and proficient so as to repel raids or insurrections. 

The original federal constitution of 1792 barred a standing army, but allowed for the Navy to protect our shores and commerce on the sea. 

The single biggest difference between a standing army (no matter what you call it) and the militia is one is paid. Guess which one. 

Then think about things going sour. Who do you suppose a paid standing army will support? I’m not saying all the soldiers will rally round the superior officer, but most of the higher ups got there by playing the army advancement game. They will expect soldiers to comply with orders. 

And if you think the NYNG will be the one to police NY, you don’t understand the FEMA regional concept. That plan applies to the rest of the states/regions in the US. Then look at the UN “peacekeeping” forces. It’s not the Israelis who would keep the peace in Israel if the UN gets involved. 

Our NG units serve a great need and have fought in almost every modern war because congress has trouble funding a full time army (all services). I admire and respect their dedication. I simply hope their allegiance to the Constitution of their state, and the one of our nation they are sworn to protect, comes rapidly to mind when the FEMA buses arrive to take anyone to a camp.

Awaken America!

There comes a time when it becomes necessary to expose the general public to those things that create lack of discernment in the arena of life. In particular I’d like to address the Constitution of the United States of America and how the last one hundred years has blinded the majority of everyday citizens.

Most people have at least heard the consternation voiced by child rearing parents concerning common core. What most people don’t know is that as early as 1898 John Dewey published an essay about how to influence our democratic republic toward a socialist state. In "The Primary-Education Fetich” he damns high literacy and advocates for programs in education that dumb down a child’s natural ability to learn language skills. That makes one hundred and seventeen years of negative influence in our schools and colleges; one hundred and seventeen years of teaching children socialist views; one hundred and seventeen years of influencing children to be socialists in thought and deed.

In addition to Dewey’s skewed intelligence, he also had the ears of the Rockefellers to the point where they funded education programs that would become the norm. In today’s world, the rich continue to believe that only they can be intelligent enough to run the country or make decisions about everyday life for the masses. They inhabit the universities and they publish education’s text books and they found the government offices to be places of refuge.

Well, the truth of it is that they are likely to be correct. They’ve had one hundred years to make sure that you were prohibited from learning how to learn. They’ve convinced you that they are so important that they can make better decisions for you than you can. They’ve been giving you whatever you’ve asked for, including living spaces, healthcare, transportation, food and a phone. Why would you ever consider that what they say isn’t in your best interest?

And that’s the point.

Today America sits on the verge of collapse from a runaway Federal Banking System, to lawlessness within our government, to an influx of illegal aliens focused on destroying the American Republic, to local and state governments chipping away at what were once constitutionally guaranteed rights; rights that were designed and put into place to guarantee people the opportunity to throw out the bums.

Now is the time to open your eyes and your brain. Now is the time to stand up and be counted. For if you do not take an active position in protecting the very rights on which our country was founded, your children and grandchildren will suffer great consequences after you have been removed. It is coming down to that.

Within our Republic there are forces at work to create great consternation and revolt. If the revolt gets physical, as in military battle, there will be such disconnect to our way of life that other nations will find ways to take advantage of the rebellion. You will soon see how weak and unorganized our country is. We will not be defeated by a foreign country until we have handed ourselves the defeat. Some may remember the cartoon caption, “We have met the enemy and it is us.” The only way that we can be our own worst enemy is to stand down at a time when standing in the gap is the correct formation.

People, find a way to stand in the gap, to rebuild the walls of the Republic, to keep a watch for an enemy lurking beyond the wall. They are there and they are prepared. Don’t let it happen on your watch. Get to the voting booth. Do not abdicate your right to vote. Your vote does matter; it does count. Your neighbor’s vote counts, as do your relatives’ votes. Find an official that sees life as you do and vote them in. They are out there. Remember, the “others” will try to tell you who to vote for. Don’t fall for it. Learn who speaks the truth and understands what a statesman does while in office. Throw out the politicians. Let America resume its place as an economic and powerful leader of the free world and change the way the next one hundred years will be noted by historians.