The ongoing discussion, statewide, concerning House Bill 288 — the bill that purports to “legalize” the militia movement — is a waste of time for the consideration of the Legislature.

Since 1993, the militia movement has been alive and well throughout the continental United States. The fact is that, despite all the hue and cry about certain states supporting clandestine military movements, there is not one facet of the movement that violates any existing statute or code anywhere in the codes of the state or nation! The right to formally — or informally — organize units of this nature has been protected by multiple decisions of the various courts throughout the land. So long as “mask assembly and confrontation” are avoided, we have the same rights as most fraternal organizations!

Our flag is the same flag most of us served under in past and present conflicts in which our nation became involved. We are citizens! We are Americans! We are the militia, and as long as the Constitution our fathers enshrined in word and law those long years ago is revered as the “law of the land,” we will be inactive. It’s that simple!

Mike Hankins