“Twenty-two states currently have volunteer state guard units. These units, formally known as state defense forces (SDFs), are today’s state militias. Authorized by the Constitution and built on a strong U.S. militia tradition, today’s SDFs offer a vital, low-cost force multiplier and homeland security resource. In July 2011, Arizona’s Senate Bill 1495 went into effect, authorizing Arizona’s governor to establish an SDF. Historically, state defense forces were often organized as light infantry and military police forces. This model is largely a relic of past security and defense needs. While SDFs are not necessarily required in states with low risk of natural disasters or terror attacks, several states that are at high risk for catastrophes have yet to create a modern state defense force. Such states can no longer afford to place establishment of an SDF on the sidelines. Four national security analysts, including two retired SDF officers, explain how SDFs work, and why they are invaluable to so many states—and to the country.“
Comment: Offered for the enlightenment of this here and abroad who do not understand that the US really is a federal republic. pl
https://www.heritage.org/defense/report/why-more-states-should-establish-state-defense-forces
Thank you for posting this.
Do you think this might be a draw for the many right-of-center Americans who think the federal government has gone mad and wants to turn the country into one big Portland?
Or, is that ridiculous?
I don’t know that the constitution authorizes state guards, more it was assumed, and I suppose Amendment X confirms it. The only thing really authorized is the appointment of officers. Compare this to Articles of Confederation Art VI:
“No vessels of war shall be kept up in time of peace, by any state, except such number only, as shall be deemed necessary by the united states, in congress assembled, for the defence of such state, or its trade; nor shall any body of forces be kept up, by any state, in time of peace, except such number only as, in the judgment of the united states, in congress assembled, shall be deemed requisite to garrison the forts necessary for the defence of such state; but every state shall always keep up a well regulated and disciplined militia, sufficiently armed and accounted, and shall provide and constantly have ready for use, in public stores, a due number of field pieces and tents, and a proper quantity of arms, ammunition, and camp equipage.”
Under these terms Mass governor Bowdoin saw that the action of town militias were inadequate in ensuring the operation of the courts resulting in his calling out a state militia of 4000 for 30 days under Major General Lincoln to suppress the insurrection armed force in the state principally led by Shays. This force was successful, but overall I don’t think many prominent citizens such as Washington were happy with the system. After considerable debate at the Constitutional Convention they arrived at the concept that Congress would have the power “To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions;”
I’ve learned so much in the past year about our history, especially as it relates to the constitution that I must say that steps like this are precisely what the founders expected in the event that the Federal government began to abuse it powers. The pendulum of power needs to swing back to the states ….
this idea (or effort) is one way that it can and I believe that it is implied in the 10th Amendment.
The ABC entities created during the Progressive Era from Wilson thru Roosevelt (and subsequent) have resulted in a cancerous Administrative State that has usurped the powers of not only our Constitutionally elected officials but ALSO much of the powers of the states ….this was NEVER supposed to happen.
We are ALL now, effectively ‘occupied’ by an alien entity commonly referred to as the Administrative State … .
It will take an immense effort to throw it off ….might even require a ‘bankrupting’ of the Federal government as we all retreat back into our 50 individual entities to start over ….I always thought it quaint that each state had its own constitution ….now I understand why.
The Federal tier of government has been occupied by an alien entity ….this alien entity has put the Federal tier of government in violation of the Guarantor clause of the Constitution ….Each state needs to come to a realization of this and to push back in whatever way possible.
Oklahoma recently announced that its National Guardsmen would not be forced to comply with the DOD’s vaccine mandate …a direct challenge to the DOD ‘s (an ABC entity) authority.
Let’s see how that plays out. It’s what I believe needs to happen.
Jim