Constitutional militia movement The modern constitutional militia movement , the constitutionalist wing of the " militia movement " in the United States , became active in the mid 1990s in a response of outrage about the violent confrontation at Ruby Ridge , the Waco Siege and gun control legislation . The movement is composed largely of veteran s , libertarians , and Second Amendment advocates who share a common dislike of federal government decisions and actions , and a set of ideals associated with the values of the militia they see embodied in the Constitution . Background . The roots of the modern Constitutional militia movement are found in the revolutionary nature of the militia with precedents in United States colonial history , found in the Articles of Confederation , the U . S . Constitution , and subsequent federal legislation . According to supporters of the constitutional militia movement , this early republican militia tradition included an armed populace that was supposed to be kept organized and ready to function to safeguard against the tyranny of government and standing armies . The constitutional militia movement has continuity back to the American Revolution , with periods of subsidence and revival . Revivals include Fries Rebellion ( 1799 ) , the Revolution of 1800 , the Dorr Rebellion ( 1842 ) , the Copperheads ( 1861 – 65 ) , and the American Liberty League ( 1934 ) . Throughout American history , there have also been other constitutionalist revivals in opposition to many governmental actions deemed unconstitutional . Some writers have asserted that the modern revival of the constitutional militia movement began as early as 1958 but that , in this early phase , it was associated ideologically with the white supremacist Christian Identity movement mixed with constitutionalist elements . A fear of Communism was prevalent in the United States in light of communist victories in China , Africa , Eastern Europe and Latin America during the Twentieth Century . This concern was shared by members of the constitutional militia movement who feared a collectivist takeover of the United States . The constitutionalist militia purpose draws upon the old Colonial role of the militias as defenders of America against foreign invaders generally , and specifically against collectivist forces infiltrating and dominating within the United States . These militia revivals believed in the sanctity of the U . S . Constitution , and that certain groups are conspiring to destroy America . Unlike the Christian Identity groups , the Constitutionalist militias generally resist casting blame on ethnic , racial or religious groups , but rather blame influential individuals or groups of individuals ( e . g . , the Bilderberg Group , the Trilateral Commission ) who promote globalization , collectively known as the New World Order . There are exceptions to this , such as the Minuteman Project and the Posse Comitatus . Definition . Conceptually , a citizen ' s militia has been defined as a constitutionalist private army meeting regularly to practice combat skills and discuss weapons . The militia is defined as social groups practice " skills within a distinct territory , are not always anti - government , and have some opinions regarding use of terrorism to further militia goals . " It may have an offensive , paramilitary , and / or defensive orientation depending on circumstances . Operational features listed in the book " Militias at the Millennium " include . : Structure . One writer offers a description of the constitutionalist militia movement that identifies four types Other writers view constitutionalism as the movement , having a militia wing , rather than a militia movement with a constitutionalist wing . Controversy . From the inception of the modern movement there has been controversy over whether the movement was an important part of a complete response to many important threats , or a threat in itself . Both protagonists and antagonists have emerged in all parts of society .