A longer post than I care to write, but I thought it might be useful.
If you want a clue on how the gov't will "paint" the militias (and many of us), look to the treatment of motorcycle clubs over the years. I speak from a long-term association with a 1% club (although I'm currently not a patchholder). The club I was patched in had absolutely no tolerance for the illegal activity typicallly associated, by the gov't, with "outlaw" clubs: no drug running, weapon smuggling, prostitution, etc. If you were caught in such serious illegal activty, you had the patch cut off your back, and you got your ass kicked righteously for your trouble. In the 10 years of my association, I never knew of one such instance. Were we Boy Scouts? No. A violent, criminal organization? Most decidedly not. It is a brotherhood of men (many vets, many patriots) who hold down jobs, care for their families, and support their brothers.
Nevertheless, we were painted as a criminal organization. Last year, the show "Gangland" actually featured our club. Unbelievable. They showed activities which happened over 15 years ago as if they were current. No mention of the fact that in all that time, there had been NO problems. At one point, a brief video of a group of guys "fighting" was shown as proof of "violence". Laughable: this was someone wrestling for their patch (when you are awarded your patch, you wrestle your club brothers for it), NOT someone getting hammered by the club.
I have been stopped and hassled by LEO simply because I had a patch on my back. Never mind that, legally, I'm pure as the driven snow (have a carry permit), I'm a Christian man, hold a doctorate and a CPA, and have dutifully raised a family and paid my taxes; in short, I'm a model citizen. Because of the patch, I was an outlaw. Now I understand history and perception and I knew the situation before I put the patch on my back. I made my decision and I lived with the consequences. But, that's not the point, is it?
I remember once when a raid on an outlaw club was shown on TV. The feds set up a table showing a couple vests with patches and an assortment of firearms. Even my wife, who should have known better, was taken in. I pointed out to her that should they raid our house, the table they set up would be identical: my club patch and a whole array of firearms. Paints a threatening picture, right? You know the kicker: all the firearms were perfectly legal to own. But, don't you think "Joe Citizen" bought that picture, which said, basically, we need to rid ourselves of these menaces to society?
I could relate many such events.
So, what picture has always been "painted" about militias? Fringe, weapons, extremists, violence, threats, dangerous...And Joe Citizen is buying every word of it, to OUR detriment. Think eventually they won't get to you? Think again.
Question and verify. Don't buy into stereotypes. Trust nothing the gov't says.
BTW, I don't care for nor will I participate in a "flame war" about outlaw MCs. You're entitled to your opinion. I simply share this for your reading pleasure.
