In 1987, the governor of Utah removed all but 31 officers from the Utah State Guard, after a probe revealed that its ranks were "peppered with neo-Nazis, felons and mental patients."1 Meanwhile, in 1990, the Virginia General Assembly launched an investigation and subsequent overhaul of its state's force after receiving tips that the volunteers were "saving money to buy a tank."2
1Anderson, Jack (21 November 1991). "Independent state defense forces costly, without purpose". Kentucky New Era. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
2Kelderman, Eric (31 December 2003). "State Defense Forces Grow, Project New Image". Pew Center on the States. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012.
I hate to think what they‘d find now all over the country.
ReplyDeleteI had the exact same thought as Mitchell!
ReplyDeleteSaving up for a Tank, hmm,
ReplyDeleteI understand that, if you can find one in good condition, a 1970's era Imperial or Oldsmobile 98/Buick Electra 225 are quite reasonable.
DeleteWill Jay
The trunks of the Imperials of that era had their own zip codes. I will guiltily admit I think those cars were cool, way over-the-top, but cool.
DeleteThere was an Olds 88 convertible on an auction site the other day, with only 65,000 original miles.
DeleteSo our country has always been crazy. Now with the Internet we can find the crazies.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very good point! What we're seeing now has been there all along, but for the past couple of decades, it's been socially unacceptable to show its face on anything above the local level where these sorts of things predominate. Now, thanks to social media, Fox news, and any number of cable channel shows (think Duck Dynasty) these things have entered the national sphere.
DeleteI suppose they are all quietly rehired as cabinet members?
ReplyDelete