Words of Wisdom from an American Patriot

The Gun is Civilization
 by Maj. L. Caudill USMC (Ret)

 Human beings only have two ways to deal with one another: reason and force. If you want me to do something for you, you have a choice of either convincing me via argument, or force me to do your bidding under threat of force. Every human interaction falls into one of those two categories, without exception. Reason or force, that's it.
 
 In a truly moral and civilized society, people exclusively interact through persuasion. Force has no place as a valid method of social interaction, and the only thing that removes force from the menu is the personal firearm, as paradoxical as it may sound to some.

 When I carry a gun, you cannot deal with me by force. You have to use reason and try to persuade me, because I have a way to negate your threat or employment of force.
 
 The gun is the only personal weapon that puts a 100-pound woman on equal footing with a 220-pound mugger, a 75-year old retiree on equal footing with a 19-year old gang banger, and a single guy on equal footing with a carload of drunk guys with baseball bats. The gun removes the disparity in physical strength, size, or numbers between a potential attacker and a defender.

 There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations. These are the people who think that we'd be more civilized if all guns were removed from society, because a firearm makes it easier for a [armed] mugger to do his job. That, of course, is only true if the mugger's potential victims are mostly disarmed either by choice or by legislative fiat--it has no validity when most of a mugger's potential marks are armed.

 People who argue for the banning of arms ask for automatic rule by the young, the strong, and the many, and that's the exact opposite of a civilized society. A mugger, even an armed one, can only make a successful living in a society where the state has granted him a force monopoly.

 Then there's the argument that the gun makes confrontations lethal that otherwise would only result in injury. This argument is fallacious in several ways. Without guns involved, confrontations are won by the physically superior party inflicting overwhelming injury on the loser.

People who think that fists, bats, sticks, or stones don't constitute lethal force watch too much TV, where people take beatings and come out of it with a bloody lip at worst. The fact that the gun makes lethal force easier works solely in favor of the weaker defender, not the stronger attacker. If both are armed, the field is level.

 The gun is the only weapon that's as lethal in the hands of an octogenarian as it is in the hands of a weight lifter. It simply wouldn't work as well as a force equalizer if it wasn't both lethal and easily employable.

 When I carry a gun, I don't do so because I am looking for a fight, but because I'm looking to be left alone. The gun at my side means that I cannot be forced, only persuaded. I don't carry it because I'm afraid, but because it enables me to be unafraid. It doesn't limit the actions of those who would interact with me through reason, only the actions of those who would do so by force. It removes force from the equation... and that's why carrying a gun is a civilized act.
 
 By Maj. L. Caudill USMC (Ret)

 So the greatest civilization is one where all citizens are equally armed and can only be persuaded, never forced.

What is the “Idaho Light Foot” militia?

To begin, we are not a “group”. You don't “join” us. There are no membership forms to fill out. We are members of the Idaho militia for the same reason you are a member of the militia, but you didn't even know it. Until now.

The “Idaho Light Foot” is an attempt, by patriotic Idahoans, to revive the people's militia for the benefit of the liberty and well being of the citizens of Idaho. The Idaho militia consists of “All able-bodied male persons, residents of this state, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five years” (Idaho Constitution, Article 14, section 1).

The Idaho legislature and our governor are derelict in their duties, under Article 14, section 2, whereby the legislature “shall provide by law for the enrollment, equipment and discipline of the militia”, and under section 3, “All militia officers shall be commissioned by the governor”. 

 

Some will argue that the National Guard is now our state's militia. But, if you read Idaho Code, Title 46, chapter 1, it reads “The militia of the state of Idaho shall be divided into three (3) classes, to wit: The national guard, the organized militia, and the unorganized militia.”

It further classifies the unorganized militia:

“The militia of the state of Idaho shall consist of all able-bodied citizens of the state, and all other able-bodied persons who have or shall have declared their intentions to become citizens of the United States and are residents of the state of Idaho; who shall be more than eighteen (18) years of age, and except as hereinafter provided, not more than forty-five (45) years of age.”

The “organized militia” under this statute is simply the unorganized militia when called up into active duty by the governor. And the age range given, 18-45 years, is simply the “draft age”, if you will, that the governor can impress into the service of Idaho. Traditionally, the militia has consisted of citizens from the age of 16 up to 70, if “able-bodied”.

The militia is the people, plainly put. It is repeated again and again in the writings of our Founding Fathers. They knew that the best way to enslave a nation was to disarm it's people. That was the reason for, and original intent of, the 2^nd Amendment. If the people retained their right of armed resistance, then the federal government would not so easily overstep it's bounds.

I have heard people say, “they're not sanctioned by the governor”. Or, “any militia not called up by the legislature is illegal”. First, we don't need “sanctioning” by the governor or anyone else. We are free people and have our rights given to us by God, our creator. Second, we're not “calling” ourselves up or planning an overthrow of any government. We are simply concerned citizens who wish to prepare ourselves in case the governor ever does call up the militia. And third, if the legislature and the governor would follow the mandate in our constitution to equip, train and discipline the militia, there would be no need for private citizens to do it themselves. (All the while being branded “domestic terrorists” by misinformed citizens.)

Can you imagine the chaos that would ensue if there was an emergency tomorrow? How long would it take to “organize” our state's militia? Weeks? Months? Would you feel safe while the legislature tries to get their act together during a crisis.

No, the time to prepare is before the emergency. When we can calmly organize and train in subjects such as first aid, land navigation (military-speak for map and compass reading), food storage, emergency protocols, liaison with local police/fire/EMS departments, and yes, weapons training and combat tactics (which we all hope we will never need). 

 

Speaking of police/fire/EMS personnel, some of our members are former police officers, fireman and EMT's; as well as many retired and ex-military. They teach classes and pass on their knowledge to the others in our “group” who don't have such backgrounds. 

 

We also are setting up a chain of command which is essential to organization in a crisis. Our officers, including myself, are voted upon by the men below them in rank. I didn't make myself the leader of the “Light Foot”. I was voted in by men and women with backgrounds in the military and police. They honor me with their confidence in my abilities. I am humbled by the faith they have in me.

I wish the state would step in and train county militia units in all 44 counties in our great state. I wish the governor would do his duty and appoint officers in each county. Our state and it's people would be much safer and better prepared to face any emergency.

Until that day comes, though, if you'd like more information about our efforts to reconstitute the Idaho militia, please visit our website at www.northidaho21lightfoot.org or check out our “sister” organization in Washington www.wa63lightfoot.us . We can be reached by mail at P.O. Box 284, Naples, Idaho.

And about the origin of “Light Foot”?

During the time of our country's founding, cavalry units were called “Horse”, heavy cavalry was “Heavy Horse” (e.g. The 48^th Regiment of Horse). Infantry units at the time were called “Foot”, as in the “12^th Regiment of Foot”. 

 

Since we have no “supply lines” to speak of at the present time, we will most likely have to carry everything we need on our backs. Resupplying as we go.

Light=Speed, Speed=Surprise, Surprise=Victory...

...hence, the Idaho “Light Foot” militia.

Who are the radicals, again?

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http://www.anarchist-studies.org/node/299
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A friend forwarded this website to me and while I don't usually spend much time reading “anarchist” literature, I thought I'd take a little time and peruse this one piece. It's posted on a slick looking website called “Institute for Anarchist Studies”. They state that their political ideology “emerged out of the socialist movement as a distinct politics in the nineteenth century. It asserted that it is necessary and possible to overthrow coercive and exploitative social relationships, and replace them with egalitarian, self-managed, and cooperative social forms. Anarchism thus gave new depth to the long struggle for freedom.”

Sounds like a fun group of guys, eh?

They start out this long-winded diatribe by stating that the author is a “white working class male” and the article is aimed at the same.

“Hey”, I said to myself, “that's me!”

But as you try to work your way through this extensive composition on the evils of capitalism and that all that you have been told about what freedom and liberty are, is a lie, you discover two things.

First, the author is very good at the art of propaganda and playing on peoples' emotions. His work is intelligent and well thought out. He makes his argument for a “new social paradigm and movement that goes beyond the idea of liberty being a protection for property ownership”. And if you didn't know better, you'd probably think it didn't sound like a bad idea. Oh, and watch out for the Tea Party movement. If you support them, then you're just being “exploited” by the “mostly...rich politically ambitious organizers”. You rube!

Second, the term he uses to describe his prospective audience would more accurately be called:

“White working class male... who doesn't know American history, our Founding Fathers' definition of private property, the proper role of government or Marxist propaganda techniques.”

It is chock full of class envy and class hatred, which he seems to believe could be taken care of with a healthy dose of class warfare. In closing he lists eleven “concrete steps that white working class people can take to work to build a movement for real liberty”.

Here's a sample (emphasis mine):

9) Be ready to actively defend your neighborhoods, workplaces, and communities from the police and state forces. Take whatever measures you deem necessary to do so.

10) Don’t get a job as a cop or prison guard. These jobs also reinforce racial divisions within our class, as well as create domestic armies to use against us when we do work toward our own power. Cops are not our friends. The police systemically exist to protect the rich and their property.

11) Do anything you can to take back resources from the rich. We’ll keep this suggestion intentionally vague. The rich have all the food, all the money, all the wealth, and all the power. Let’s take it back. Any way we can.

Any way we can? Really?

If I posted this on the website for the Idaho Light Foot militia I'd have the Feds at my door with bells on (and body armor, kevlar helmets, machine guns and armored personnel carriers!).

And they call us in the patriot movement “radicals”?

Years ago there was a magazine public service advertisement supporting local cops which showed a police officer holding a small, dead girl in his arms; tears running down his face. The caption read, “They call him Pig!”.

I feel the same as that officer when I cry for the state of our country today...

...only they call me “domestic terrorist”.

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"You wanna piece o' me?"

This is in response to the "comments" on the ABCNews/Nightline web story of the Idaho Light Foot Militia.

http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/idaho-militia-trains-supports-bear-arms/comments?type=story&id=10242140

To start, if you want to bust on me for having "zero military experience" or for my rank as "Major", fine. But know this, all of our sergeants and officers are voted in by the men under them in rank. I was voted into this position by the men under me. Most of them have military experience. Some were police officers. Some were firemen/EMT's. One had 30 yrs in as a green beret. They honor me with the position they've given me. I am humbled by the trust they have placed in me.

I had job when I started organizing this a year ago. I was the shop supervisor for a steel fabrication company with 20 employees and made 40K a year. I'm laid off right now because we are waiting on a new contract to come through. But I guess "unemployed welder" sounded better to ABC.

I've been involved in the "patriot movement" for 15 years. Long before Obama showed up on the scene. I don't care what color the socialist is who ruins my country. I felt the same when Bush and Clinton were president as I do now.

You say we should try to help in other ways. Most of us do. Some are volunteer firefighters, EMT's, etc. But, we do this too. Why? Because even though we hope nothing will ever happen, we're even more afraid of being in a bad situation and not being prepared. You say we should just join the National Guard? Most of our guys are ex-military. They've already served this country, and want to again... in the militia.

And I love this one comment... "Maybe they should go and really fight for their country in Afghanistan." I don't know about you, "orchiddsf" (user name), but Afghanistan isn't my country.

And, "Astro Boy13", I don't consider the attempts by progressives (or whatever it is socialists call themselves today) to turn our Constitutional Republic into a Social Democracy a "light and transient cause". Don't try to quote the Declaration of Independence to me... I WILL school you!

I wish our state legislature would follow our Idaho Constitution which MANDATES that they "organize, equip and discipline" the militia, and that the Governor "shall appoint the officers". Please! Put me out of a job! I'd gladly drop back into the ranks and serve my fellow Idahoans as a private in a squad. If the state would just DO THEIR JOBS we wouldn't have to do it for them.

Hutaree - Terrorists! ...until proven innocent?

 Many in the militia and patriot/tea party movement are quick to distance themselves from the newest "home-grown terrorist" group that we've been luckily saved from by our big brothers at the FBI/ATF.

I understand that in these turbulent times keeping arms length from extremist groups or people helps keep you legitimate in the eyes of the public. But what ever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"? My friends, if we do not adhere to this basic principal of our legal system, then what is to stop the "powers that be" from charging anyone with whom they disagree with a crime? And what more heinous crime can there be but the murder of police officers? Conspiracy to kill kindergarten teachers?

Don't get me wrong, the killing of anyone, police officer or otherwise, is a heinous act and should be punished. But at the same time, is an accusation against someone enough to get you to turn your back on your fellow American? Is that the kind of citizens' our Founding Fathers hoped would inherit the free Republic they fought and died for?

Shouldn't we give them the same benefit of the doubt that we, ourselves, would expect if we were accused of conspiring to commit a crime? What if you were wrongfully charged with a crime you didn't commit? Should we in the patriot movement turn our backs on you?

Well, what if your religious beliefs aren't comfortable with the mainstream? What if your politics is to the right of Glenn Beck? Then is it alright to assume guilt before a preliminary hearing is even held?

I say NO! We should stand up for the rights of all or none of us will have rights at all!

If it turns out that these people did commit crimes and are found guilty by a jury of their peers, then yes, they should rightfully be shunned by all law-abiding, freedom loving Americans.

Until then. They are innocent until proven guilty.

For non-establishment media insight, go to...
http://sipseystreetirregulars.blogspot.com/2010/03/hutaree-raid-extremely-well-executed.html

"These are the times that try men's souls..."

Our country is entering a historic time... a time of decision.

These united States are divided, I believe, even more so than at the time of  the 'War Between the States'. At that time, one side wanted an overly strong federal government (north), while the other wanted the majority of the power to rest with the several states (south). But they both agreed that the American system of a Constitutional Republic was the best form of government to guarantee the rights of a free, moral and God-fearing people.

Today, we still have one side that believes in God, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and that freedom is best protected by investing the majority of government power in the states and in the people themselves.

The other side, however, doesn't believe that the American system is the best system; or that YOU should be self-governing and independent. This is where the true rift forms. Most people used to believe that both the Democrats and Republicans had the nations best interest at heart, but they simply differed on the route we should take to get there. Today, though, the mist is clearing from the peoples eyes and they are beginning to find out the truth.

Our Constitutional Republic is best suited to a population that is self-reliant, self-sufficient and self-governing. Meaning, the father is the best judge of what is good for his family; counties are the best arbiter of what and how schools should teach the children of their communities; and states are the most effective builders of infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc.) and framers of laws that govern everything else in a state that is not enumerated in the 17 specific powers that were delegated to the federal government back in 1787 (try to find the Federal Reserve Bank or the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, Interior, Education or Health & Human Services in the Constitution. You won't, because they're not there...  However, you will find them in the '10 planks of the Communist Manifesto').

The truth is that both political parties have taken us down the same road that leads to the dissolution of our founding form of government and have done everything they can to institute a socialist democracy in it's place. This is the real dividing line. Not left vs. right. But instead, those who believe in freedom and liberty, opposite those who work toward establishing an omnipotent central government with power over every facet of your life.
Cradle-to-grave, as they so often put it.

If you value Liberty, more than Security... read on!