Militia Members Gather Outside DC

Militia members are gathering on a field just outside of Washington DC today in advance of their Second Amendment March on the Capitol. Outside DC city limits, they are allowed to openly brandish their weapons.

On the lineup are several heroes of the militia movement, including Mike Vanderboegh, who advocated throwing bricks through the windows of Democrats who voted for the health-care bill; Tom Fernandez, who has established a nationwide call tree to mobilize an armed resistance to any government order to seize firearms; and former Arizona sheriff Richard Mack, who refused to enforce the Brady law and then won a Supreme Court verdict that weakened its background-check provisions. Those coming to the "Restore the Constitution" rally give Obama no quarter for signing the law that permits them to bring their guns to Fort Hunt, run by the National Park Service, and to Gravelly Point on the banks of the Potomac River. Nor are they comforted by a broad expansion of gun rights in several states since his election. The brandishing of weapons is "not just an important symbol" but "a reminder of who we are," said Almond. "The founders knew that it is the tendency of government to expand itself and embrace its own power, and they knew the citizenry had to be reminded of that."

Not uncoincidentally, today's saber rattling towards our federal government comes on the 15th anniversary of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City. JMG reader and federal employee Jimbo sends us the below photo of seven coworkers killed on that day. It hangs in the office of Jimbo's agency there.

Ed Shultz On Teabagger Militia

Last night MSNBC's Ed Shultz ranted about the teabagger plan in Oklahoma to form an armed state militia to defend against the federal government. Crazy/scary OK state Sen. Randy Brogdon is running for governor and joins Shultz to "call for the restoration of Constitutional liberties."

Oklahoma Teabaggers To Form Militia To Defend Against The Federal Government

Oklahoma teabaggers are working with politicians to form a state recognized volunteer militia to defend themselves against the federal government. Just in case, you know, somebody tries to make them obey the tyrannical health care reform bill.

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?"

Critics point out that the National Guard already exists as a state-level military force. Completely related to this whack story, the 15th anniversary of the bombing of Oklahoma City's federal building is this Monday.

The Million Man Armed Militia March

If you thought the teabaggers were scary and paranoid, how about a "Million Man Armed Militia March" on Washington DC, supposedly set for July? Here's a partial transcript from a YouTube video promoting the event.The clip was taken private last night.

A peaceful demonstration of at least a million — hey, if we can get 10 million, even better — but at least one million armed militia men marching on Washington. A peaceful demonstration. No shooting, no one gets hurt. Just a demonstration. The only difference from any typical demonstration is we will all be armed.

One million armed wingnuts marching on DC. What could possibly go wrong?