# Official Oklahoma militia? \[legislative proposal\] **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 13, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-oklahoma-militia-legislative-proposal/535943 "2010-04-13T13:37:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Furious\_Marmot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@Furious\_Marmot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furious_Marmot)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-oklahoma-militia-legislative-proposal/535943/1 "2010-04-13T13:37:51Z")
Tea Party asks Oklahoma Legislature for support in forming militia [dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-teapartymilitia\_13tex.ART.State.Edition1.4c9ab49.html](http://dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-teapartymilitia_13tex.ART.State.Edition1.4c9ab49.html) Every year state legislators introduce all kinds of batshit crazy legislation that goes nowhere and gets press coverage out of all proportion to its significance, but this is a little far out. There’s a bit in there about how the proponents don’t know how the militia would stop the Federal government from enforcing laws they don’t like. In the next paragraph a state senator says invokes the 2nd Amendment which “deals directly with the right of an individual to keep and bear arms to protect themselves from an overreaching federal government.” If a state officially recognizes a privately funded and administered militia, for the purpose of defending against infringement by the Federal government upon state’s rights, it raises a few questions. 1. By what means would a militia oppose Federal law? If it’s just going to be lawsuits or legislation or rallies, why organize a militia at all? 2. Who decides what Federal laws will be opposed? The militia’s leaders (who may not be elected), the state legislature, a public ballot initiative? 3. Wouldn’t this be a case of the state government ceding some of its responsibilities to a private organization? How is it different from selling the DOT or the Highway Patrol to a corporation? Again, I’m not saying it is going to happen, because it won’t. Nor am I suggesting it’s a good idea, because it’s not. Nor am I suggesting that this reflects the general leanings of the Tea Partiers, or the Republican Party, or Oklahomans or anybody else. I’m just fascinated that this has even come up and want to watch it, like an onlooker at a train wreck. ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-oklahoma-militia-legislative-proposal/535943/2 "2010-04-13T13:50:02Z")
I thought many states had their own militaries already, separate even from the National Guard. Texas certainly does. ETA: but of course those are state organizations, with the governor acting as commander in chief. I can’t follow the OP’s link, but it sounds like s/he may be describing something distinct from the state military force. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-oklahoma-militia-legislative-proposal/535943/3 "2010-04-13T13:56:45Z")
Most states have state militias. New York even has its own [navy](http://dmna.state.ny.us/nynm/naval.php)! Cue the Village People. ETA: Of course, these are not privately funded organizations, which I certainly agree would be rather stoopit. ---
**Author:** ![Furious\_Marmot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dfb087/32.png) [@Furious\_Marmot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Furious_Marmot)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/official-oklahoma-militia-legislative-proposal/535943/4 "2010-04-13T14:15:55Z")
Is the link broken? Sorry if it is, I’m using my phone. It’s from the Dallas Morning News, via Google. To amplify your point- the link for the NY state naval militia indicates that in addition to being state-run, 95% of it’s members are US Navy Reservists. Also, no mention of defending against the Feds. I guess they keep an eye on Canada when not assisting with capsized boaters and the like.