Michigan Militia
Encyclopedia
The Michigan Militia was an organized paramilitary
organization founded by Norman Olson
, a former U.S. Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer, of Alanson, Michigan
, USA. The organization formed around 1994 in response to perceived encroachments by the Federal Government
on the rights of citizens during the early Clinton Administration. The Michigan Militia Corps (MMC) declined during the late 1990s and was essentially defunct as a statewide organization by 2000. Splinter groups continue to meet and train. In 2009 the Michigan Militia Corps was re-founded and they elected a new State Commander, they are slowly growing in numbers again with about 14 counties claiming to be part of the Michigan Militia Corps.
church in Waco, Texas
(see Waco Siege
) and the Federal standoff with the Weaver family
in Ruby Ridge
, Idaho
. Members of the Michigan Militia believed these events, which involved agents of the FBI and BATF, were alarming shows of force by the Federal Government against citizens who had not committed any federal crimes, but were targeted for simply having views contrary to those in government at the time. In addition, several gun control laws passed during the early Clinton Administration
increased fears amongst citizens that Second Amendment rights
were being severely curtailed by the Federal Government.
, Michigan
's state animal. The MMC was initially divided into four divisions, each having a regional name. The division names were:
Each militia division
consisted of several brigade
s, which were organized by county.
Each brigade had a commander, generally of the rank of lieutenant colonel
, that was elected by the membership of that brigade. Each division was headed by a division commander with the rank of colonel
, who was elected by the brigade commanders. The Michigan Militia Corps was headed by a commanding officer with the rank of brigadier general
, who was elected at-large by all Michigan Militia Corps members on an annual basis.
At its peak the Michigan Militia Corps claimed membership of 10,000. Major areas of focus for the Michigan Militia were paramilitary training and emergency response.
Subcommittee on Terrorism
. Olson's opening statement included the following:
On Martial Law in America:
Norman Olson retained the position of Commander of the MMC until after the Oklahoma City bombing
in 1995, where he published a press release blaming the Japan
ese for the bombing, supposedly in retaliation for a clandestine US-sponsored gas attack in the Tokyo subway system. (See: Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
.) This press release was seen as an embarrassment by the MMC membership and Lynn Van Huizen of Nunica, Michigan was elected state commander in 1996.
Van Huizen was listed in the FBI's report entitled Project Megiddo
as a more moderate militia leader, "A number of militia leaders, such as Lynn Van Huizen of the Michigan Militia Corps - Wolverines, have gone to some effort to actively rid their ranks of radical members who are inclined to carry out acts of violence and/or terrorism."
. The Michigan Militia, as of July 2011, has seen call outs for 2 natural disaster responses and 3 search & rescue operations.
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
organization founded by Norman Olson
Norman Olson
Norman Olson is an American militia movement activist. Olson is a Baptist minister and retired United States Air Force non-commissioned officer originally from Alanson, Michigan...
, a former U.S. Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer, of Alanson, Michigan
Alanson, Michigan
Alanson is a village in Emmet County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 785.Alanson is in Littlefield Township on U.S. Highway 31 at the junction with M-68. Petoskey is about southwest on US 31 and Mackinaw City and the Mackinac Bridge are about north...
, USA. The organization formed around 1994 in response to perceived encroachments by the Federal Government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
on the rights of citizens during the early Clinton Administration. The Michigan Militia Corps (MMC) declined during the late 1990s and was essentially defunct as a statewide organization by 2000. Splinter groups continue to meet and train. In 2009 the Michigan Militia Corps was re-founded and they elected a new State Commander, they are slowly growing in numbers again with about 14 counties claiming to be part of the Michigan Militia Corps.
Formation
The two events that contributed to the formation and growth of the Michigan Militia were the Federal standoff at the Branch DavidianBranch Davidian
The Branch Davidians are a Protestant sect that originated in 1955 from a schism in the Davidian Seventh Day Adventists , a reform movement that began within the Seventh-day Adventist Church around 1930...
church in Waco, Texas
Waco, Texas
Waco is a city in and the county seat of McLennan County, Texas. Situated along the Brazos River and on the I-35 corridor, halfway between Dallas and Austin, it is the economic, cultural, and academic center of the 'Heart of Texas' region....
(see Waco Siege
Waco Siege
The Waco siege began on February 28, 1993, and ended violently 50 days later on April 19. The siege began when the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms attempted to execute a search warrant at the Branch Davidian ranch at Mount Carmel, a property located east-northeast of Waco,...
) and the Federal standoff with the Weaver family
Randy Weaver
Randall Claude "Randy" Weaver is a former Green Beret who was at the center of a deadly confrontation with U.S. federal agents at Ruby Ridge, Idaho, in 1992.-Early life:...
in Ruby Ridge
Ruby Ridge
Ruby Ridge was the site of a violent confrontation and siege in northern Idaho in 1992. It involved Randy Weaver, his family, Weaver's friend Kevin Harris, and agents of the United States Marshals Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation...
, Idaho
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
. Members of the Michigan Militia believed these events, which involved agents of the FBI and BATF, were alarming shows of force by the Federal Government against citizens who had not committed any federal crimes, but were targeted for simply having views contrary to those in government at the time. In addition, several gun control laws passed during the early Clinton Administration
Presidency of Bill Clinton
The United States Presidency of Bill Clinton, also known as the Clinton Administration, was the executive branch of the federal government of the United States from January 20, 1993 to January 20, 2001. Clinton was the first Democratic president since Franklin D. Roosevelt to win a second full term...
increased fears amongst citizens that Second Amendment rights
Second Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the United States Bill of Rights that protects the right of the people to keep and bear arms. It was adopted on December 15, 1791, along with the rest of the Bill of Rights.In 2008 and 2010, the Supreme Court issued two Second...
were being severely curtailed by the Federal Government.
Organization
The Michigan Militia was formally organized in the name Michigan Militia Corps, with the mascot of the wolverineWolverine
The wolverine, pronounced , Gulo gulo , also referred to as glutton, carcajou, skunk bear, or quickhatch, is the largest land-dwelling species of the family Mustelidae . It is a stocky and muscular carnivore, more closely resembling a small bear than other mustelids...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
's state animal. The MMC was initially divided into four divisions, each having a regional name. The division names were:
- Superior Michigan Regional Militia (named for Lake SuperiorLake SuperiorLake Superior is the largest of the five traditionally-demarcated Great Lakes of North America. It is bounded to the north by the Canadian province of Ontario and the U.S. state of Minnesota, and to the south by the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Michigan. It is the largest freshwater lake in the...
) - Northern Michigan Regional Militia
- Central Michigan Regional Militia
- Southern Michigan Regional Militia
Each militia division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
consisted of several brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
s, which were organized by county.
Each brigade had a commander, generally of the rank of lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, that was elected by the membership of that brigade. Each division was headed by a division commander with the rank of colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, who was elected by the brigade commanders. The Michigan Militia Corps was headed by a commanding officer with the rank of brigadier general
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
, who was elected at-large by all Michigan Militia Corps members on an annual basis.
At its peak the Michigan Militia Corps claimed membership of 10,000. Major areas of focus for the Michigan Militia were paramilitary training and emergency response.
Significant Events
On June 15, 1995, Norman Olson, along with militia leaders from other states, testified before the United States SenateUnited States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Subcommittee on Terrorism
United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security
The United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security is one of seven subcommittees within the Senate Judiciary Committee.-Jurisdiction:...
. Olson's opening statement included the following:
Not only does the Constitution specifically allow the formation of a Federal Army, it also recognizes the inherent right of the people to form militia. Further, it recognizes that the citizen and his personal armaments are the foundation of the militia. The arming of the militia is not left to the state but to the citizen. However, should the state choose to arm its citizen militia, it is free to do so (bearing in mind the Constitution is not a document limiting the citizen, but rather limiting the power of government). But should the state fail to arm its citizen militia, the right of the people to keep and bear arms becomes the source of the guarantee that the state will not be found defenseless in the presence of a threat to its security. It makes no sense whatsoever to look to the Constitution of the United States or that of any state for permission to form a citizen militia since logically, the power to permit is also the power to deny. If brought to its logical conclusion in this case, government may deny the citizen the right to form a militia. If this were to happen, the state would assert itself as the principle of the contract making the people the agents. Liberty then would depend on the state's grant of liberty. Such a concept is foreign to American thought.
On Martial Law in America:
One other important point needs to be made. Since The Constitution is the limiting document upon the government, the government cannot become greater than the granting power. That is, the servant cannot become greater than its master. Therefore, should the chief executive or the other branch of government or all branches together act to suspend The Constitution under a rule of martial law, all
power granted to government would be cancelled and differed back to the granting power. That is the people.
And I'll conclude with this statement:
Martial law shall NOT be possible in this country as long as the people recognize the bill of rights as inalienable.
Norman Olson retained the position of Commander of the MMC until after the Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
in 1995, where he published a press release blaming the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese for the bombing, supposedly in retaliation for a clandestine US-sponsored gas attack in the Tokyo subway system. (See: Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
The Sarin attack on the Tokyo subway, usually referred to in the Japanese media as the , was an act of domestic terrorism perpetrated by members of Aum Shinrikyo on March 20, 1995....
.) This press release was seen as an embarrassment by the MMC membership and Lynn Van Huizen of Nunica, Michigan was elected state commander in 1996.
Van Huizen was listed in the FBI's report entitled Project Megiddo
Project Megiddo
Project Megiddo was a report researched and written by the United States' Federal Bureau of Investigation under Director Louis Freeh. Released on October 20, 1999, the report named followers of white supremacy, Christian Identity, the militia movement, Black Hebrew Israelites, and apocalyptic cults...
as a more moderate militia leader, "A number of militia leaders, such as Lynn Van Huizen of the Michigan Militia Corps - Wolverines, have gone to some effort to actively rid their ranks of radical members who are inclined to carry out acts of violence and/or terrorism."
Decline
In the years after the Oklahoma City bombing, the Michigan Militia Corps slowly declined and the leadership fell into infighting. The organization was essentially defunct on a statewide basis by 2000, but several militia groups continue to operate independently. In 2009 the Michigan Militia Corps was re-founded and they elected a new State Commander, they are slowly growing in numbers again with about 14 counties claiming to be part of the Michigan Militia Corps.Emergency Response
Starting in 2010, The Michigan Militia started actively training in natural and man-made disaster response, search & rescue and volunteering with the American Red CrossAmerican Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
. The Michigan Militia, as of July 2011, has seen call outs for 2 natural disaster responses and 3 search & rescue operations.
See also
- Timothy McVeighTimothy McVeighTimothy James McVeigh was a United States Army veteran and security guard who detonated a truck bomb in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995...
was erroneously associated with the Militia by the mainstream media, but the Michigan Militia was later declared by the FBI to be clear of involvement with McVeigh and the Oklahoma City bombingOklahoma City bombingThe Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
.
External links
- MichiganMilitia.com
- Michigan Militia Corps 8th Division
- Michigan Militia Corps - Internet Archive historical copy of the MMC web site, circa 1998.
- Michigan Militia Corps Wolverines - Current as of 2011