| Militia is the term used to describe an armed force | | | | The reserves or the unorganized militia in the US are |
| made up of ordinary citizens for various purposes | | | | numerous. From Alaska to Western Virginia, each |
| such as providing law enforcement in times of | | | | state in the American mainland has at least one |
| emergency, and defense via providing paramilitary | | | | unorganized reserve (which is most likely to be |
| services without necessarily being paid with a regular | | | | private) force ready to perform the duties expected |
| salary or being obligated to serve a fixed term. | | | | of their organized counterparts. One state with more |
| Historically, the militia has played an important role in | | | | than one of such groups is California, which has militia |
| the history of the United States, particularly in its | | | | groups scattered all over its expansive area. Most of |
| revolutionary war of independence against Britain as | | | | them are private and are dedicated to upholding |
| it played a major role in that conflict. Militia groups in | | | | America's liberty from what the group perceive as |
| the United States have stayed on up to the present | | | | threats, both realistic and fanciful. |
| day and they serve primarily as reserve forces and | | | | The unorganized militias of other states are more |
| the country's first line of defense in case the | | | | extensive in their stated purpose on the other hand. |
| mainland United States is invaded or threatened by | | | | Such groups include Maryland's Citizen Defense |
| hostile forces, may they be external or domestic in | | | | League, which describes itself as a pro-firearms rights |
| nature. | | | | and a pro-liberty organization. Montana's Militia of |
| Militia groups in the United States are categorized | | | | Montana also takes it upon themselves to educate |
| between two types: organized and unorganized. | | | | their fellow Americans concerning decisions about |
| The organized groups category is where the National | | | | their country's future. Groups such as those that are |
| Guards can be categorized under. The National Guard | | | | located in Pennsylvania also see the safeguarding of |
| is a force organized in the state level and whose | | | | their community's peace and order as one of their |
| members are ready to be called up for service by | | | | areas of concern. |
| the state's governor in case of domestic threats | | | | Apart from the mentioned groups, majority of the |
| including natural disasters such as floods and | | | | militias in the United States are committed to |
| hurricanes. The members of the National Guard from | | | | performing the simple function of expected form |
| each state of the United States form the | | | | such an armed force: to backup the regular armed |
| over-arching National Guard of the United States | | | | forces in defending the American homeland and |
| which is under the federal government and can be | | | | serve as its first line of defense against any group |
| called up for duty by the President of the United | | | | that threatens its very existence. |
| States, if the need arises. This makes the National | | | | Militia groups in the United States are numerous and |
| Guard of the United States under the authority of | | | | varied but they are all unified by their common |
| the federal government, as opposed to the State | | | | purpose of protecting the mainland USA from |
| National Guards which are under the state | | | | threats. |
| government. | | | | |