No, they aren’t. They are a branch of the Federal military. Each State government is supposed to maintain its own “well regulated militia”, in case of Federal overreach. That’s what the 2nd amendment calls for…and it’s clearly needed now.
Each State government is supposed to maintain its own “well regulated militia”, in case of Federal overreach.
That’s why each state has its own branch of the National Guard. And there was essentially no discussion when the Constitution was being written about the use of state militias to deter federal overreach. More was about putting down slave rebellions and committing genocide against Native Americans.
The Second Amendment states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”.
Until recently, this was always understood to mean that each State had the right to maintain its own militia. It was included in the Constitution as a response to the practice of the British Army occupying State land during disputes between local governments and the Crown.
The first 5 amendments were all written in direct opposition to the Intolerable Acts of 1774. The State Representatives at the time, wanted guarantees written into the Constitution, that such infringements on their right to self-determination could not be repeated by the Federal Government they were about to join.
No they aren’t. You’re thinking of the Reserves. The national guard can be activated by the federal government, but they are run by the state. Hell even the oath you take is to the governor of the state instead of the president.
If they can be “federalized” by the President…then they do not truly serve the State. He can simply overrule that authority during an emergency. And it’s pretty obvious at this point, he is perfectly willing to create an emergency in order to do just that.
State militias are something else. They serve the State, alone.
No, they aren’t. They are a branch of the Federal military. Each State government is supposed to maintain its own “well regulated militia”, in case of Federal overreach. That’s what the 2nd amendment calls for…and it’s clearly needed now.
That’s why each state has its own branch of the National Guard. And there was essentially no discussion when the Constitution was being written about the use of state militias to deter federal overreach. More was about putting down slave rebellions and committing genocide against Native Americans.
The Second Amendment states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”.
Until recently, this was always understood to mean that each State had the right to maintain its own militia. It was included in the Constitution as a response to the practice of the British Army occupying State land during disputes between local governments and the Crown.
The first 5 amendments were all written in direct opposition to the Intolerable Acts of 1774. The State Representatives at the time, wanted guarantees written into the Constitution, that such infringements on their right to self-determination could not be repeated by the Federal Government they were about to join.
No they aren’t. You’re thinking of the Reserves. The national guard can be activated by the federal government, but they are run by the state. Hell even the oath you take is to the governor of the state instead of the president.
If they can be “federalized” by the President…then they do not truly serve the State. He can simply overrule that authority during an emergency. And it’s pretty obvious at this point, he is perfectly willing to create an emergency in order to do just that.
State militias are something else. They serve the State, alone.
Something like 20 states still do… (and even more have them but they’re inactive)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_defense_force
https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/state-militias-by-state