The Death of the Constitutional Militia and the Rise of the Military-Police State

From Instapundit Glenn Reynolds’
USA Today column, which looks at the role the militia
played during the American founding:

In 1912, when the federal government tried to send militia
units into Mexico, the militias balked, noting that the
Constitution allowed them to be called out only to repel invasion,
suppress insurrection, or enforce the law — not to invade other
countries. Surprisingly, perhaps, Attorney General George
Wickersham agreed, leading to a change in the law that produced the
modern-day National Guard, a force that is not so limited. Since
then, America has been far more active abroad.

But this departure from the system the Framers set up has
encouraged more intrusive law enforcement at home, and more
military action abroad. So I’ll ask you: If a well-regulated
militia is necessary to the security of a free state, then are we
insecure? Or unfree? Or both?

Read the whole thing.