We are ready if Obama will take our weapons

Armed to the teeth: Ekstrabladet.dk on maneuvers with the U.S. Michigan militia

11:37, 14. okt 2012 | Mikkel Selin

LAKE ISLAND (ekstrabladet.dk): Toad is almost invisible when he is in the autumn colored forest floor. He unlatch his Springfield-precision rifle and scout through the crosshairs against an imaginary enemy.
- It is the same rifle that special forces used in Iraq. I can hit my goal of more than 200 meters away, he whispers.

Toad - in fact named David - bought the rifle when he was discarded by the army 19 years ago. He’s living the dream of being marksman in the Michigan militia, which is one of America's oldest paramilitary right groups.

- I was rejected because I had epilepsy. I'm grown from now. It also helped that I stopped drinking, he says.

Armed with military rifles and code names like Bear, Toad and Bubba's militia people are keen to defend the United States against all possible threats: a Muslim invasion or an American president who will introduce socialist dictatorship. According to the militia people is tyranny waiting just around the corner.

- We are ready if President Obama will take the weapons from us. We deliver never our weapons, said Lee Miracle, 44, who has been in charge of the 217-strong militia since 1994.

Has the right to self-defense

Miracle - which in his own words is built like a tree stump: short and wide - has worked as a postman in Sterling Heights in Detroit in the past 23 years. He says that militia people are a diverse group of people who have one thing in common: They have more confidence in a loaded gun than the authorities.

- The right to bear arms is part of our DNA. All animals have the right to defend themselves. This also applies to humans, says Miracle as an explanation of why the militia men free time tactical drills, patrols and fire training.

- It's sad when you cannot take a walk in your neighborhood without carrying a Glock pistol. But such is the reality, he says.

Michigan militia was founded in 1994 in response to the federal authorities raided the sect The Branch Davidians in Waco, Texas. 10 people were killed in the action, which many Americans saw as an excessive use of force.

Her throat slashed

In 1995, the Michigan militia linked to Timothy McVeigh, who was behind the bombing in Oklahoma City, where 168 people died. Although McVeigh was not a member of the Michigan militia - he had attended an information session - gave the group a bad name.

- We are not criminals and always operate within the law. We are deeply independent and only wants the state to leave us alone, said Mike Lackomar, underlining that the members have very different motives for joining the militia.

For Brian Ondercin, 34, was a personal tragedy that made the outcome: His mother was killed in a jealous showdown.

- She got her throat slashed in her own home. I had offered her a gun, but she refused because she did not like guns. Now she is dead.

- You can not expect the police will save you. And it is important that you can defend yourself, he says.

Militia Leader comes in last

The first exercise is an obstacle in the hilly forest terrain. Weather keeps dry and the air is fresh. The battle clad men running out on the route one at a time. Fritz - a broad-shouldered Dutchman, who joined the militia in 2007 - implements challenge in best time.
- It went better than last time, which I love, says the scratchy Dutch accent.
Lee Miracle finish off the exercise in the absolute worst time. Panting and groaning he comes in goals with his 14-year-old son in tow.
- That's what my cardiologist had recommended me, it sounds breathless from militia leader.

Served in Europe

Bubba - who says his name is Tom - served in an American armored unit in Europe during the Cold War. He's militia military specialist and instructs the group in map reading, reconnaissance and navigation.

He divides the group into four teams, Alpha, Beta, Charlie and Delta, and sends them out on a four-hour hike where they will be responsible for spotting signal lines. All keep radio contact with the command center. But when the group's oldest member, however, gets lost, reacts Bubba top sergeant-style:
- You can kill people, but do not know how to read a map! You scare me damn

Danish article with 20 pics gallery: http://ekstrabladet.dk/nyheder/samfund/article1845249.ece#g1845250=20