Militia forming in county

A militia is forming in Boundary County, but Anthony Miller promises it won’t involve men running through the woods with six packs of beer and guns.

This militia will involve men helping their neighbors whether it be in times of flooding, forest fires or protecting one’s right to bear arms.

“To me, the whole point of the militia is to do whatever is needed to preserve a sense of community and let people know if they need help; there’s people here to help,” Miller said.

The Bonners Ferry man is among three officers serving in the recently formed North Idaho 21st Battalion of Light Foot.

So far, 30 to 40 people have expressed an interest in joining, according to Lt. Jeff Stankiewicz of Naples, who is serving as the group’s executive officer.

The battalion meets 6:30 to 8 p.m. every other Friday at Slates Restaurant on Highway 95 north of Wal-mart in Ponderay. The next meeting is Friday, June 5.

Training is held 3 p.m. every Sunday. Members meet in the Bonners Ferry City Parking Lot and caravan from there.

By definition, a militia is part of the organized armed forces of a country that’s only called for emergencies.

“We’re trying to get people together and trained for whatever,” said Stankiewicz, shop supervisor for Stockdale Steel in Bonners Ferry. “We’re forming to help organize a local military. We have retired police in the group and go all the way down to (men) who are 20 something. They want to help protect . . . if there’s a snow storm, if trees fall across the road or whatever emergency might come up.”

Larry Davis, a retired police officer living in Moyie Springs, also joined.

I’m a concerned citizen,” said Davis who retired as a lieutenant from San Luis Obisto Sheriff’s Department in California after serving 30 years.

“With the way things are heading in our world and nation, you get concerned,” the 59-year-old said. “I think the militia is a patriotic thing. If you read your history, the militia is the one that helped General Washington.”

Stankiewicz’s reasons for getting involved include the ailing economy and terrorism.

“We have our enemies,” he said. “China and Russia are both building up military and flexing their muscles.”

“We live in troubling times,” Davis added. “If you look across the world, there’s not much good news out there. There’s a lot of people who want to take away the right to bear arms. Maybe we should go back to the way it was a long time ago.”

“The federal government is getting larger and more intrusive every day,” he continued. “State government isn’t that far behind. It’s one of those things where there’s just a whole lot of concerns, but they don’t seem to be going away.”

To learn more, go to www.northidaho21lightfoot.org, or call 597-0196.