Well, that was interesting...
I checked out each of the links you guys have found and there quite a diverse list of choices available. The Washington Guard is part of the Washington State "Military Department". Who would have thought that Chris Gregoire would allow such a thing?
The others were more or less standard (if there can be such a thing) local militias.
None of them are true militia in the sense intended by the Framers though. I would join a true, local, Sheriff led, State authorized, organic community militia in a heartbeat. I.e. supporting our Oath to the Constitution(s), defending our community against threats and helping folks in the case of disaster, without the requirement to play army in Iraq or Afganistan for the Few.
The issue I have with those current militias we see is that they generally operate outside of the statute law and thus there is a draw to those who would seek to confront and/or even inititate conflict with government. The Washington State Militia was involved in activities (some of course say initiated by federal agents planted within their organization, but whatever) in the 90s that sent some of them in the Federal Prison system for up to eight years. These groups are magnets for federal agents and these guys generally aren't smart enough to avoid the "crazy talk" which then leads to jail.
I have four kids and I don't need to see the inside of any jail. For any reason. Yet.
These guys are the closest I have found to being a gun club that happens to exercise the skills of a soldier...
KISSATA
From their home page, "KISSATA engages in no illegal activities, and has no interest in illegal weapons or explosive devices. We DO NOT advocate the overthrow of the United States government. Fighting the government, LEO, or the U.S. Military is NOT our desire, fantasy, or plan.
We exist to DEFEND our families, friends, community and nation."
That is something I do support.
The government will make it's intentions clear enough in the next couple of years and then we ALL may have to make a hard decision about their validity, but for today, I need to be home to help raise the next generation of homeschooled Washington citizens.
So, a militia in Benton County is something I would love to see, organized by a Constitutionally aware Sheriff. I don't know the new Sheriff but he was a West Richland LEO prior to his election, whatever that might say. Not holding my breath.
Nearly all militias in the US describe themselves as "Unorganized". To be organized, they would have to join the National Guard. And they claim the protections of the Second Amendment as their Right to organize. That clearly means nothing when they are seditionists and actively seek to overthrow the government of the State or the Federal Government. Good intentions notwithstanding, it is illegal to conspire to kill and maim government employees and agents. Many of their points are good ones but moving from the legal to the illegal is a big step, even if the government does it first. Keeping the moral high ground today is important...
Good article on
the history of militia.
And some interesting law...
Bill of Rights, Amendment II.
A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.
Washington State Constitution, SECTION 24 RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS.
The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired,
but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ
an armed body of men.
USC>TITLE 10>CHAPTER 13 > § 311
§ 311. Militia: composition and classes
(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard.
(b) The classes of the militia are—
(1)
the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and
(2)
the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.
RCW 38.04.030
Composition of the militia.
The militia of the state of Washington shall consist of all able bodied citizens of the United States and all other able bodied persons who have declared their intention to become citizens of the United States, residing within this state, who shall be more than eighteen years of age, and shall include all persons who are members of the national guard and the state guard, and said militia shall be divided into two classes, the organized militia and the unorganized militia.