Democrats Propose Bill to Neuter Militias

[Jilly_in_VA]

Militias who like to spend their weekends training to overthrow the government could find themselves running afoul of federal law, under new legislation being proposed in the House and Senate Thursday that seeks to curtail paramilitary activity.

The “Preventing Private Paramilitary Activity Act” is being introduced by Senator Ed Markey from Massachusetts, and Congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland, both Democrats.

The legislation would prohibit publicly patrolling, drilling or engaging in harmful or deadly paramilitary activities, interfering with or interrupting government proceedings, interfering with someone else exercising their constitutional rights, falsely assuming the role of law enforcement, and “training to engage in such behavior.”

The lawmakers propose different tiers of criminal penalties, depending on whether violations result in injury or property damage. The bill would establish harsher penalties for repeat offenders, and probationary sentences for first-time offenders. It would also create paths for the DOJ and private individuals to seek civil federal lawsuits against paramilitary activity.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/n7e5xm/democrats-propose-bill-to-neuter-militias

I predict this will go over like a lead ballon with the GQP.

[GreenWave]

1. This would render them null and obsolete!

[Wounded Bear]

2. Would be nice if something like this could pass...nt

[gab13by13]

3. Step #1

They are not militias per the definition in the Constitution, they are terrorist organizations.

Words matter - a fence is not a wall.😊

[LastDemocratInSC]

21. They are more like a 1% motorcycle gang without the wheels.

[hlthe2b]

4. While I'd support it totally, we may as well be advocating for "actual" neutering (i.e., surgical castration)

But, damn if I wouldn't hope to see some action taken toward these uncontrolled and highly threatening militias.

[gab13by13]

6. They aren't militias

they are anti-government.

[hlthe2b]

10. Preaching to the choir, instead of the courts...

and regulating them/prosecuting them/controlling them will be a tremendous "lift" given the way SCOTUS has bastardized the Second Amendment to their (these groups) benefit. Scalia et all (DC v Heller) could have strictly defined "militias" in accordance with 2-A and the Founder's original intent. That he/they did not has left us where we are today.

[NutmegYankee]

5. Gangs, not militias.

Militias serve under the authority of the state. These groups are just armed gangs.

[Hotler]

7. Some of our moderate Dems want to help Mike keep his job, maybe Mike can helps us with this. nt

[bucolic_frolic]

8. Good. Now make them practice in Afganistan and you'll weed out the sunshine patriots. /nt

[redqueen]

9. They need to be banned from the military, LEO jobs, and security jobs, too. nt

[LiberalFighter]

25. Another reason to have a national database for law enforcement personnel.

[Initech]

11. This should have been done years ago!

Time to stop calling the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, III%ers, "militias" and start calling them what they really are: right wing terrorists.

[BComplex]

12. If the law could pass, the corrupt & compromised supremes would declare the law unconstitutional.

You know they would.

[SouthernDem4ever]

14. Because we now live in bizarro world

[spike jones]

13. Right Wing Death Squads is a more accurate description.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right_Wing_Death_Squad

[Aviation Pro]

15. That'll put a dent in the Airsoft community

"It's milsim!"

[paleotn]

17. If airsoft groups are planning and training for assassinations or a coup...

I'd say they're a bit under gunned.

[Aviation Pro]

23. They use airsoft as a training evolution for maneuver training

They aren't stupid enough to go live.

Or are they?

[LiberalFighter]

16. I would think city, county, and state law enforcement would be concerned about private militia

They should explain they do not have authority to stop anyone, arrest them or anything related to law enforcement. In all likelihood they will be staffed by people with a criminal history.

[Wild blueberry]

18. Good start, we need laws against Domestic Terrorism

Similar to those against Foreign Terrorism.
Then those domestic terrorists can be fully prosecuted.

[liberalgunwilltravel]

19. Neuter?

Seems kind of redundant for incels.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

20. If they are not "well regulated", then they're not a militia according to 2A.

Bust up the insurrectionists and terrorist organizations that call themselves militia.

[LastDemocratInSC]

24. Many of them are very well regulated

thanks to Dulcolax for seniors.

[Barry Markson]

22. I'm sure that iron clad protections will be included

So that when republicans gain the Whitehouse, not if but when, at some point, their DOJ wouldn't be able to turn such a federal law against folks they deem subversive "Militias".

[LiberalFighter]

26. Neuter their testicles or other parts?

[Freethinker65]

27. Interesting.

They are trying to have GOP argue the "well regulated militia" part of the second amendment...you know, the part they choose to ignore when referring to the constitutionality of any and all gun regulations.

[TheFarseer]

28. As long as it doesn't prevent people

from peaceably assembling and exercising their right to protest. I agree their intimidation tactics should be stopped.

[J_William_Ryan]

29. The Supreme Court already did this in

Presser v. Illinois (1886), holding that only state governments or the Federal government have the authority to create and sanction militia.

The “Preventing Private Paramilitary Activity Act” would therefore be perfectly Constitutional, in no manner violating the Second Amendment.