By Dale Parker | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
I am not surprised at the result of the efforts of people in our state to banish firearms. No one should be surprised at the open contempt for our God given rights, protected in our Bill of Rights, that was demonstrated by requiring Ken DeGraaf to cover part of our Constitution.
There is no remedy for this at the state levels.
We have to go on the offense and enact recognition of these God given rights to self protection.
The way our 2nd Amendment was penned has been glossed over for 200 years because there was no need after the American Revolution to flesh out what the Founders intended. It was recognized and taken for granted that the right to possess all arms belonged to the citizens of our country and not just a standing army or our National Guard.
Our tax dollars are being spent at the state and national level to enact unconstitutional laws and regulations that are stripping us of our 2nd Amendment rights.
These actions necessitate financially supporting pro-2nd Amendment organizations and employing even more attorneys to fight endless court battles in defensive efforts to regain our rights that have been trampled on.
Our government has demonstrated in recent years a willingness to arrogate to themselves power and authority – clearly not intended by the framers of our Republic.
What our Founding Fathers envisioned was a national resource that would be armed and equipped to take on those who would impose tyranny through government or criminal acts, and that could respond to threats from abroad as well.
We need to return to this concept. We need federal legislation that recognizes a national militia as it was intended.
In order to accomplish this we MUST act on the verbiage of the 2nd and implement a “call up of the militia.”
Trump has the Constitutional right to do this, and the exigent circumstances of terrorists and gangs within our borders should be the springboard to accomplish this. I have this proposal somewhat framed and I need help to get it in front of lawmakers.
My reasons for trying to frame this discussion of ideas are built on the premise that our country is in trouble and will likely be facing threats from within that could rival the disaster of our Civil War.
If such an event or series of events come to pass then I do not believe that a government “top down” reaction will be effective. Indeed, if multiple attacks take place then we could very well see no help at all. Communities will have to help themselves.
In order to be effective, we must possess all the tools and resources we can muster.
I believe the answer lies in our Founder’s vision of an armed and equipped citizenry that is reminiscent of the Minute Men of our Revolution. This militia needs to be recognized by our federal government and it needs to be trained and equipped by our federal government.
Our National Guard has in the past been utilized in many emergencies, but much like all first responders they are reactive and cannot be everywhere. They will not be able to stop or deal with multiple threats as they unfold.
Only a standing citizen militia that is constantly armed and that has not only a local structure but a national “tree” of communication and interaction will be effective. Individual reaction and community solutions will be necessary if we are to prevail.
This is what I have put forth:
In keeping with the verbiage of our Constitution, “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state….”
I propose that a requisite background check and a bullet-proof method of proving citizenship along with the purchase of a firearm will automatically qualify an individual for enrollment into the “National Citizens’ Volunteer Defense” (just a suggested name) to be established under Homeland Security.
I include the necessity of holding a verifiable proof of citizenship because of the huge industry that exists in creating false identifications.
I once arrested a man who had come up out of Mexico and had three different identities. All three had a California driver’s license, a “state issued” I.D. and a Social Security card. What was really embarrassing was that all three looked better and were more professionally done than the identifications that had been issued to me.
Certification of membership into this organization must be issued upon request, and members of this nationally recognized militia will be exempt from all state and ATF laws regulating types of firearms.
In addition, members of this well regulated militia will be exempt from all other restrictions and insurance requirements proposed by state or federal regulatory agencies.
Manufacturers, sporting goods stores and small FFLs would be designated as armories and would be exempt from insurance requirements and taxes that could be punitive or impose undue hardship.
Those members of the National Citizens’ Volunteer Defense who take a requisite course of instruction and demonstrate a level of proficiency that is on par with the qualification requirements of local law enforcement agencies can then apply for a “shall issue” concealed carry permit through Homeland Security.
This concealed carry permit will allow them to carry across all state lines and into any place that a police officer would by law be allowed to carry concealed (having passed the same background checks and having shown the same proficiency as the majority of law enforcement).
The ATF and state governments would not be allowed to define regulations or impose restrictions on members of the militia. And all currently designated NFA items would be legal for members of the militia to own and carry.
The law needs to be written so that no federal agency would be able to disband or limit the ability of the militia to organize, train, and equip its membership or to remove it from the oversight of Homeland Security without a 2/3 majority vote of both House and Senate.
We have not experienced such an opportunity to establish and recognize the true militia for many generations. A true militia is comprised of armed citizens as envisioned by our Founding Fathers.
We cannot afford, nor do we wish to live under, a police or military state. A free and armed citizen militia that is trained and organized is a formidable foe and incredible deterrent.
Due to the overwhelming numbers of un-vetted illegals (millions), including terrorists, cartels, and criminals which have poured into our country, we are now facing tangible threats and a national crisis.
With the current Director of Homeland Security and President Trump in office we stand a good chance to push this through.
If we can get manufacturers and retailers behind us we can take these necessary steps to insure our rights and protect our freedoms. We can incorporate Constitutional education along with teaching practical skills to young and old alike. Membership and a right to carry arms should extend to all of our young citizens who are old enough to serve in our military.
This is an opportunity to revitalize what has been our American heritage.
Pro-gun organizations have been fighting for our 2nd Amendment rights in courts for years. They have been necessary but have also been largely reactive and defensive.
We are losing the fight in Colorado, Washington, and other states. We have to change direction if we are going to keep our rights and freedoms.
I have family in the military and a son who is currently an investigator in Washington state. He recently texted me in regard to proposed Washington state legislation that will effectively curtail all 2nd Amendment rights in that state by requiring insurance on each and every firearm (Colorado and other states soon to follow).
This will make owning a firearm impossible.
A national reciprocity bill will be ineffective under this type of state legislation.
We also have Colorado banning certain firearms and entertaining the passage of other restrictive laws.
A misguided mentality and push to disarm the citizens of Israel resulted in the murder of hundreds of unarmed victims on Oct. 7th. The world is still dealing with the fallout of those terrible decisions.
Let us learn from their mistakes and keep our God given rights to defend our lives, our property, and our freedoms.
Dale Parker lives in Western Colorado. A former police officer, K9 handler, and EMT, he also served as an NRA instructor and held a Master qualification in high-power shooting and Expert status in long-range marksmanship. With nearly two decades in mountain search and rescue, Parker brings firsthand experience in firearms, public safety and the value of community-based problem solving.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.