This question assumes that we have assault weapons; we do not. Assault weapons are "select-fire" weapons, which means they can fire either semi-automatic (one trigger pull, one bullet comes out) or fully automatic (one trigger pull, lots of bullets come out); this select-fire ability is the defining factor of an assault weapon.

Any weapon that can fire fully automatically has been illegal for private citizens since 1933. Private citizens cannot own them, only military and law enforcement are allowed to have them.

The militia uses civilian variations of these weapons, which are the highest technology available to us, and are semi-automatic. Our "big, black, scary-looking guns" are not big, nor scary; they are just black. They are simple to operate, field efficient, easy to clean, accurate, and commonly available, and are almost universally chambered in a .223 or 7.62 caliber; which is smaller and less powerful than a 30-30 or 30.06 caliber, which are common hunting rounds.

By wearing our uniforms, we identify ourselves as members of a positive, patriotic and responsible organization. In addition, the Geneva Convention and other laws require that all militias must have uniforms with insignia to designate them as such.

They provide efficient camouflage in wooded terrain, which is tactically sound. Most members wear fatigues only to meetings or training activities. Today's fatigues are comfortable, economic, and rugged. Besides, they look good!

No to both. We cherish free thought, patriotic ideals, and the inalienable right of freedom of and from religion. Our members have a variety of religious and philosophical beliefs. We do not side ourselves with any one particular religion; on the contrary, we welcome everyones beliefs, as it tends to stimulate intellectual conversation.

There are however, individuals or groups that claim to be militias that say they are Gods army fighting "demonically controlled people who are being activated by Satan." These individuals or groups are not militias, they are religious extremists.

No to both. We in the militia would rather see a revolt at the ballot box than the bullet box.

During the riot in Los Angeles, we saw criminals, not freedom-loving patriots, looting stores and beating truck drivers.

No, the militia is an open, all-inclusive type of organization and we are not prone to the typical isolationist attitude of most survivalists. In the event of an emergency or crisis, the militia will stay to assist or defend our neighbors, communities, and state; whereas a survivalist will run to the hills and hide.

No. We train with weapons to be able to defend ourselves. The only place you can be trained to kill people is in the Marine Corps and certain government agencies. We do not train to make any weapon of mass destruction of any type. Our whole tactical and logistical table of organization is defensive in nature: to defend ourselves, our families, our communities, and our state.

It isnt "our" militia, its everyones. The militia is structured by county, forming units. These County Units vary in size and usually break down into smaller teams. These Teams can range in size from a single individual to a small group, each having their own different training, objectives, goals, and call-names. These Teams are affiliated under their County Unit and identify themselves as such. They usually hold meetings and train together as a group; however, these individuals and Teams act and speak for themselves.

Each County Unit has an elected County Coordinator who functions as a communications conduit between the Teams and other Coordinators; this being the primary function. He/She or a designee is also responsible for producing a monthly newsletter, maintaining a web site, organizing training and events, and chairs meetings. The County Coordinators act and speak for themselves, not for the Units.

The County Coordinators elect a State Coordinator, who functions in a similar manner. The State Coordinator acts and speaks for himself, not for the militia as a whole. There are throughout the state, different militia groups, many of which are not affiliated. While some of these groups claim to represent or command all the militia Units within the state, they cannot, as each individual or Team is autonomous. Given that the militia is "all able-bodied citizens who are capable of bearing arms", no one particular individual or group can represent or command the militia as a whole; excepting in times of invasion or disaster, wherein the Governor would serve as the State Commander.

First, in the context of a militia force fighting against a foreign enemy, Congress gave itself the power to decide when the militia was pressed into service. Article 1 Section 8, US Constitution states, "The congress shall have the power... to provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the union, suppress insurrections and repel invasions..."

Secondly, in the context of militia action against a domestic enemy, the highest officer in the Michigan Militia does not have the authority to order any member, of any rank, to come to a monthly meeting, let alone shoot at someone. That decision is left solely to the individual citizen.

We do not welcome anyone who espouses inconsistent, illogical hatred or violence of any sort. We aim to make anyone who would oppress, by word or deed, as uncomfortable as possible. Officially, we will "suffer the fool"; say what you will, but don't be surprised to be ridiculed by our members. We believe the right of free speech extends to allowing you to make a complete fool of yourself in front of a group of motivated patriots; you will receive the evil eye from the whole of the membership and will be given a rock under which to crawl.

They cant! In order to outlaw the citizen militia, they would have to do away with the inalienable rights of freedom of speech, to keep and bear arms, and to peaceably assemble, among others. In addition, none of those entities have the power to make laws, only Congress and State Legislatures can pass laws, and they dont have the authority to deny any inalienable rights.

This question underscores the importance and necessity for the militia as the final guarantor of freedom and final guard against a corrupt central government. They cant outlaw inalienable rights, no matter how hard they try.

No, the intent of the framers of the Constitution was that the militia was to be the primary defensive force for this nation. They wanted normal, everyday average citizens to be the foundation of the militia. In the Federalist Papers, they explained that by arming the whole of the citizenry, the militia would constitute a force superior to any that could be raised by either a foreign enemy or a domestic tyrant. The modern citizen militia consists of responsible concerned patriotic individuals.

We do not consider ourselves or our beliefs out of date; being concerned with protecting your inalienable individual rights is not out of date; standing up for freedom of speech is not out of date; standing for what the Founding Fathers fought and died for: Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness, is not out of date; the need to reduce the interference and cost of government is not out of date. Despite the passing of over 200 years, the truth still holds; the price of Freedom is eternal vigilance.

Note regarding the Constitution or its Amendments being considered out of date: The government doesnt think it is. The 27^th Amendment, concerning the compensation to Senators and Representatives, was ratified in 1992; 202 years 8 months after it was originally sent to the states. This particular Amendment was part of the original package of amendments as proposed in 1789, ten of which were ratified in 1791, commonly known as the Bill of Rights and includes the 2^nd Amendment.

No, the militia is not anti-government; we fully support the restoration of the constitutionally limited government that was intended for this nation. Besides, "We the People" are the government.

Where we do have problems, is with the on-going violations of our inalienable rights, as should you. The reason we are portrayed as negative is that it suits the purpose of tainting the legitimacy of our concerns. This is intentional and politically motivated. No one knows the misleading, deceitful capacity of the media like the Michigan Militia.

Retribution is not the word for it. We want something much more severe--justice. We want Bill Clinton, Janet Reno and every federal agent involved to face the thing that they fear most: a trial by jury. That is it. Simple, fair and straightforward. All we ask is for just a tiny bit of justice.

It is the responsibility and duty of every American citizen to get involved. Your duly elected local, state and federal representatives will day after day, year after year, continue to pass unconstitutional laws, raise your taxes beyond the point of serfdom, claim authority over your children, take your property, jail you for pretended offenses, send our military to fight foreign wars, protect you from yourself, etc, unless you get involved.

We need your involvement to let those in government know that THEY work for US, not the other way around. The more people that get involved, the more America will resemble what the Founding Fathers had in mind when they spoke of Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.

Turn off the television. Read the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. If, perchance you lost your copy of these essential documents--a must for every household, go to your local bookstore and buy them; or, we can provide them for you. Read the Constitution, learn the history, read the Federalist Papers, develop an understanding of how the country was intended to be and then look at what has become of freedom in this country. To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States, you have to understand it.

Read the Constitution, learn it, know it, assert it. It is the document that sets the rules that our government MUST follow. If you dont know the rules, you cannot expect the government to follow them!

Then contact your local Militia County Coordinator, come to a meeting. There can be no gain from watching television. There can be no gain from complaining or grumbling. There can be no gain from hiding your head in the sand. GET INVOLVED!