We think you're near Los Angeles

Currently in Los Angeles

Location: Los Angeles Current temperature: 55°F: Current condition: Scattered Clouds See Extended Forecast

SPLC report smears Oath Keepers, militias

The well-paid exploiters at the misnamed Southern Poverty Law Center are at it again.

At what?

Lumping patriots and Constitutionalists with haters. "Return of the Militias" points a trembling finger at, among others, the principled members of Oath Keepers. I guess the fund raising efforts require that some threats be fabricated by accusation.

SPLC's Larry Keller asserts they are "particularly worrisome." A fair question might be "Why"" or "To whom?" It's not like they're associated with anything other than patriotism, in spite of his attempts to insinuate racist ties.

It's not even clear why they've been included in a "report" on militias. Here's what they're about:

Oath Keepers is a non-partisan association of currently serving military, veterans, peace officers, firefighters, and the Coast Guard who will fulfill the oath we swore to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, so help us God.

Our motto is "Not on our watch!"

Here's the thing about militias--the Founding Fathers considered them "necessary to the security of a free State." But today, "thanks" to a combination of apathy, ignorance and exploitation, there's a lot of confusion as to who and what they are. And one of the most destructive lies that's wormed its way into the public discourse is that they've been legally replaced by the National Guard.

Not true. Here’s what the Subcommittee on the Constitution of the United States Senate Ninety-Seventh Congress had to say about that:

Congress has established the present National Guard under its own power to raise armies, expressly stating that it was not doing so under its power to organize and arm the militia.

Then we have the assertion that in order to claim the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, citizens must be members of a “well regulated militia.” No less an authority than Alexander Hamilton disagreed with that, writing in The Federalist No. 29:

To oblige the great body of the yeomanry, and of the other classes of the citizens, to be under arms for the purpose of going through military exercises and evolutions, as often as might be necessary to acquire the degree of perfection which would entitle them to the character of a well-regulated militia, would be a real grievance to the people, and a serious public inconvenience and loss...Little more can reasonably be aimed at, with respect to the people at large, than to have them properly armed and equipped…

I'll have more to say about militias in the coming weeks--I just finished "To Shake Their Guns in the Tyrants Face" by Robert H. Churchill. What a read. What an education. I'll be discussing it in the near future.

Have you read the latest from all the Gun Rights Examiners?

Advertisement

By

Gun Rights Examiner

David Codrea is a long-time gun rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He is a field editor for GUNS Magazine,...

Comments

  • Charlie 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    "I'll have more to say about militias in the coming weeks--I just finished "To Shake Their Guns in the Tyrants Face" by Robert H. Churchill. What a read. What an education. I'll be discussing it in the near future."

    That's funny, I just finished it last night myself. I really enjoyed it too, not only for the detailed history of the militia (which I was expecting), but for a thought-provoking examination of the shifting relationship between the People and their Government, as well as the role of personal responsibility & accountability in politics & American culture. I'm looking forward to hearing what you have to say about the book.

  • Ken 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    I see I'm going to need to read that.

  • MD Jackson 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Thank you for the honest portrait of who we are and what we do. As a member of the North Carolina Citizens Malitia I can assure you that we do not tolerate racism or antisemitism. We are a large group of loosly organized people that will come together to defend the Constitution of the United States if neccessary. I promise you, it will be defended.

  • DixieCol 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Well, who gives a rat's rear what the $PLC has to say anyhow. Look what Harper's Magazine says about the $PLC and its founder Morris Dees: www(dot)americanpatrol(dot)com/SPLC/ChurchofMorrisDees001100(dot)html

  • DRH 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    I long ago determined that the easiest way to become a member of the SPLC's most wanted was to lean ever so slightly right. The following is something I posted to the Populist Examiner's column, a man who thinks SPLC and ATF can do little wrong.

    "Interesting to know that Mark Potok, of the SPLC, who puts out these "reports," and routinely fear mongers against groups he finds personally distasteful, is also a columnist for the radical left Huffington Post. Given the way the current administration is self-destructing, this report is conveniently timed to elicit sympathy for Obama. Naturally, the undertone, as always, is "racism", the constant bogeyman played by the left whenever people oppose one of Obama's policies.
    To be sure, there are wackos on all sides of the issues. Those on the liberal progressive left who carried signs threatening the life of and calling for the death of George Bush, calling Bush a Nazi or fascist, are no different than any other hate group."

  • Kent McManigal- Albuquerque Libertarian Examiner 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Sometimes the best endorsement comes by way of who your enemies are.

  • Henry Bowman 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    "Then we have the assertion that in order to claim the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms, citizens must be members of a 'well regulated militia.'”

    Heller drove a stake through the heart of this assertion and buried it ten feet deep. Why do these nutjobs continue to play "Weekend at Bernie's" with it?

  • DRH 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Kent McManigal- Albuquerque Libertarian Examiner says: Sometimes the best endorsement comes by way of who your enemies are.

    Kent, I remember a line in "Jeremiah Johnson" very similar to that.

  • BS Zone 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    The SPLC is a HATE GROUP itself. Just go to their site and look at all the people THEY HATE!

    They listed the American Legion as a "nativist" group because of their opposition to ILLEGAL immigration.

    They list HELP SAVE MARYLAND as a 'Nativist Extremist' group.

  • BS Zone 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Help Save Maryland has ALL races and colors as active members.

  • AvgJoe 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    No question about it the SPLC is a dangerous hate group of Marxist who are as anti-american as can be. Talks about evil doers the folks at SPLC are a classic example of such people.

  • JB 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Text of message to SPLC follows:

    Please add me to the growing list of Americans that you hate to hate (but do anyway). Although not a member of the military or law enforcement, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution - every word of it.

    Please don't hate me...

    <end>

  • Clint 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    I can't help but to start realizing that these associations that fear the REAL American populace, what it stands for, and ultimately, WILL NOT stand for, are officially whizzing in their skivvies. There is absolutely no wrong in being part of what this country represents. Or, being part of what defends it, organized or individually.

    Keep it up guys. Maybe one day things will get back on the right track.

  • Luann 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    I am sorry to say that these SPLC Whacko's reside in my back yard. I'm sure, if David and I are not on the list already, we soon will be, I just hope they spell my name correctly!

  • Boompa 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    All Police Officers take an Oath to the Constitution, Oathkeepers is a Right Wing Nut Militia and any Law Enforcement Agency who would hire it's members is joining a CULT

  • GunMonkey 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Boompa: What do you know about oaths? How many Oaths have you taken? Why do you find it so offensive that people come together to celebrate an oath to something larger than themselves, to an Ideal that however fragile has lasted over 200 years on this Earth. You should be ashamed at the fact that good men willingly give up their lives at home and abroad to protect you and all your civil rights, and all you can do is repeat some sort of political kool-aid talking point. What have you, or Morris Dees done to serve anything other than yourselves?
    Oh, and just because "All Police Officers take an Oath to the Constitution" doesn't mean that they all will keep that oath does it? I can give you a list as long as my arm that grows longer everyday of police officers who abandon their oaths for whatever reason.

  • Michael 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    Hey "boompa", have another cup of cool-aid. Matter of fact, pour me one too. Stop watching, and listening to the "authorized journalists" - while must say, i appreciate your naive and bliss view of the world (I too should have taken the blue pill), you better get with the program....

  • Steve K 2 years ago
    Report Abuse

    I don't think word has really made it far yet, but I've heard rumors that there are many "activists" being paid with your tax dollars to diseminate propaganda and attack opposition throughout the internet. My first brush with one was earlier today in which the individual was incredibly uninformed yet repeated key phrases instead of try to refute my argument.

    I have little to no geniune evidence to back this up other than messages I have recieved on Youtube. This might be worth a look or two for those who have more extensive resources.

    Otherwise, Boompa, get a real job.

Add a new comment

Join the conversation! Log in here or create a new account if you've never registered before.

Got something to say?

Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!

Don't miss...