Election 2020

[Bob Butler 54]

CNN summarizes a Georgetown University bit on militias and polling places.  It is intended for if you see any attempt at intimidation to tell you what information to gather and whom to call.  Their central thesis is that it is illegal to operate as a militia in all 50 states.  

I took a very brief look at their MA page and the MA laws and they seem to have a point.  It is illegal to train with weapons or pseudo weapons.  Private groups do not have the authority to enforce the laws unless given authority by the state.  If the MA laws were strictly enforced, groups like the Proud Boys operating in MA could find themselves in trouble.  One gets the feeling that they are not generally enforced.

And this was not the old original intent.  There were no standing forces, these being seen as a threat to liberty, so the local militia or posse was often counted on to act as police.  Even at this point, you should have the right to carry an arm, and to wear a pseudo uniform could count as free speech.  I’m not sure if they attempted to enforce their laws how far they could get in the post individual right environment.

But while I’m for the right to own and carry arms, and certainly for free speech, combining the two into armed intimidation at the polling place turns sour real quick.  I am not sure the laws as put into place before the individual right was restored would stand modern scrutiny, but it seems well that somebody should put together a cheat sheet should voter intimidation be tried.