militia movement
Paramilitary political organizing
The militia movement is a political phenomenon in the United States characterized by armed civilian groups who distrust federal authority and prepare for armed resistance against perceived government overreach.
Members typically cite Second Amendment rights and constitutional originalism.
The movement gained visibility after confrontations at Ruby Ridge and Waco in the early 1990s, and has overlapped with various antigovernment and far-right ideologies: The militia movement surged after the Oklahoma City bombing brought it national attention.
- paramilitaryUnofficial armed organization
- patriotDevoted country supporter
- armedCarrying weapons
- survivalistSelf-reliance extremist
- bug out bagEmergency evacuation kit
compound · bunker · antigovernment · constitutional · sovereignty · vigilante · uprising · insurrection · separatist · extremist · rifles · gun rights · camouflage · manifesto · lone wolf · recruitment · standoff · oath
militia movementNational Guard
State-level reserve military
regular army · standing army · police force · government forces · state police
militia movementnonviolent resistance
Protest through peaceful means
peace movement · pacifism · anti-war movement · diplomatic engagement · electoral politics
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