Karen L. MacNutt

About the author: Karen L. MacNutt is a Boston attorney and a rifle and pistol competitor. She is also a consultant for the Second Amendment Foundation, the National Rifle Association, and Gun Owners Action League, all organizations that advocate the right of individuals to own guns.

The only legal role of militias is as groups of citizens that form part of the military and take orders from federal, state, and local governments. It is unlawful for private militia groups to take action simply to promote their policies. Militias that act independently are unwittingly setting themselves up as scapegoats for a government that is intent on seeking an enemy to exploit. Their actions are giving government an excuse to try to restrict individual ownership of guns and other rights. Militia members are wasting valuable resources by...