Militia in Boundary County very disturbing
The initiation of a militia organization in Boundary County is very disturbing to me, and I urge everyone to do some serious research before embracing its concept and its premises.
Militias can be dangerous. They all start out with the stated intention of augmenting protections and services provided by the legitimate agencies of government, but they very often become something far different as they grow and gain power.
They tend to create their own rules (‘laws’) of function and behavior, and the community will have no input as to what the organization considers ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ behaviors. They become a law unto themselves, which often justifies in their minds superseding the official law of the land.
I remember when Posse Comitatis made overtures in the county in the 70s. Several of the law enforcement persons in office at the time were very intrigued by the group and considered joining it. Then somebody did some research and found where the flaws lay at the core of the organization, and suddenly nobody was talking about the Posse anymore.
Aryan Nations also had some early adherents in the county, and if they had settled there instead of at Hayden Lake, the name of Bonners Ferry would carry the same reflected stench as Hayden still carries even with Richard Butler long gone.
Organizers of the ‘North Idaho 21st Battalion of Light Foot’ state their intentions toward the common good in recent copies of the B. F. Herald in terms of stepping up to help out during floods or storms or national disasters of various unnamed sorts. They speak of manning searches for lost children, and various other needs for which official agencies are already trained there, in place and at the ready.
They speak of stepping up to help at occurrences of personal disaster: home fires and other such events.
But the people of Boundary County, as in most small towns and rural communities already willingly and eagerly step up to help their neighbors at such times. No pseudo-military organization is needed to ensure that when floods come, people will come to fill sandbags; when there are storms, neighbors will show up to help in whatever way is called for; when an adult or a child is missing, Boundary County Search and Rescue, well equipped and well trained, will be joined by countless other members of the community to search through good weather and bad until the lost are found.
What purpose would be served here by persons (probably) armed to the teeth and very likely dressed in camouflage?
Please research the concept of militias before you sign on to this or encourage it.
Go to www.rickross.com/reference/furrow9.html, www.publicgood.org/reports/vigilante_history.pdf, or www.publicgood.org/reports/vigilante_history.pdf
Phyllis Dirks
Federal Way, Wash.