Militia Movements

Militias in the post–World War II period are paramilitary, in most cases far-right, organizations claiming legitimacy based on Article 1, Section 8, and the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and on the common law concept of armed citizenry. The present (private) militia movement dates back to the early 1990s. It was the opposite of the militias in colonial times, in which citizens agreed to provide their services and firearms for mutual defense, and it was unlike the National Guard that was created by the Militia Act of 1903 but was placed under the control of the U.S. Army in 1933. It grew rapidly, particularly in western states, and consisted of more than 440 groups in 50 states in 1996. Deadly standoffs at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in 1992 and Waco, Texas, in 1993 as well as several other high-profile acts of crime and terrorism marked the development of the militia movement. Because important members dropped out of the movement in the wake of numerous militia-related arrests and because the Y2K (year 2000) economic disaster predicted by the militia movement's conspiracy theories never occurred, the movement declined after the late 1990s. In 2005, however, there were signs of a new vitality in the militia movement.

The worldview of the militias can be put down to the deep tradition of hostility to the federal state among the white middle class in the United States. Militias look upon themselves as custodians of genuine American values and also adhere to a mix of conspiracy theories, militarism, and religious fanaticism. Hate is directed against the political class, immigrants, homosexuals, pro-abortionists, and tax collectors respectively. Shooting practice and survival training lasting for days are part of the militias' performance to prepare for the final battle against what is called the New World Order. Many militias either advocate white supremacy or are affiliated with white supremacist organizations.

Law enforcement and academic experts state that militia members are well connected to each other through the Internet, private computer networks, radio broadcasts, and numerous publications, although they live in scattered locations. There is a controversy over how to react to the militias: On the one side there is the duty of the government to protect the public against the threat of violence; on the other side, overreaction against militia members may lead to a radicalization of them.