Below, as approved unanimously by vote of current qualified voting membersof The Wayne County Michigan Militia (with three members absent)
on Wednesday, May 5th, 2004:
Below, as approved unanimously by vote of current qualified voting members
of The Wayne County Michigan Militia (with three members absent)
on Wednesday, May 5th, 2004:
As amended by unanimous vote on
December 2nd, 2009, and with current proposed changes now posted in red:
Whereas an armed citizenry can better deter crime, invasion,
terrorism, and tyranny, we hereby form the Southeast Michigan Volunteer
Militia (SMVM). We also encourage an armed citizenry, in support of, and
in accordance with, the national and state Constitutions.
Southeast Michigan Volunteer Militia Regulations
(As amended from WCM, May 5, 2004)
Chapter I: Structure and Organization
Local units may be organized in each county of the area.
1. Leadership:
1A. The leadership of the SMVM shall consist of a Coordinator,
supported by a staff. The SMVM Coordinator shall be a voting member chosen
annually by all of the voting membership present, at a public meeting, the
date of which will be announced by the Coordinator at the March public
meeting. The election date must be on or before April 19.
1B. When there are five or more members from the same county, they
will be encouraged to act as an independent, autonomous unit. Local or
associated units shall be responsible for determining their own leadership.
No more than five members, plus a support person, shall constitute a fire
team.
2. Appointment of SMVM staff:
2A. The SMVM Coordinator shall be chosen by simple majority vote of
the membership present.
2B. Staff shall be chosen by the SMVM Coordinator.
Staff will include:
Deputy coordinator
Record keeper
Treasurer
County reps, 7 maximum
Team leaders, a minimum 1 per county, who will represent
members at staff meetings and transmit information back and forth.
Medical advisor
Other positions as determined necessary by the Coordinator
Invited guests, who have made arrangements before the meeting
Note: Many of these positions
may be filled by one person. For example, Team Leaders also serve the function
of County Representatives, and Unit Coordinator can also serve as record keeper.
3. Uniforms: Pursuant to the laws of land warfare, the minimum uniform is a
military style hat with the word "MILITIA" clearly displayed. On completion
of Level 1 requirements, members will be provided with a fabric tab saying
"MILITIA", at cost, along with militia identification.
Suggested alternate uniforms may include:
3A. Functional camouflage.
3B. Other uniforms as determined by tactical or situational
need, such as snow camouflage.
3C. Members are advised that there are federal laws (i.e., AR-670-1
and 10 U.S.C. 771) which prohibit the wearing of subdued U.S. military
rank, and other federal insignia, or otherwise impersonating federal
military personnel.
4. Members: Citizens, or those residents who have declared an intent to
become citizens, who reside within the Michigan counties of Wayne, Monroe,
Washtenaw, Oakland, Livingston, Macomb, and St. Clair, who are capable of bearing arms, may join
the SMVM as voting members by fulfilling the following requirements:
4A. Age: the minimum age for service in the SMVM is 18 years, or 17
with parental consent.
4B. New members shall fulfill all the requirements of Level One
qualifications (as defined by SMVM) within a 60 day period. Demonstration
of equipment and abilities must be witnessed by two SMVM voting members, or
the Coordinator and one witness (voting/qualified not a requirement), or a Team
Leader. If
qualification does not take place at a regularly scheduled training event,
three voting qualified witnesses must observe the successful completion of
requirements, or the Coordinator plus one witness, or the Coordinator's
designated representative plus one witness, or a Team Leader.
4C. The only other way to achieve voting status is fulfillment of the
SMVM Field Support criteria, to be determined by SMVM
staff and voted upon by the membership.
4D. Members will complete their membership process by signing up in
person at a scheduled public meeting or training, and providing a picture for
their ID card. The new
member will provide a call sign and one current means of contact to the coordinator: either
an e-mail address, phone#, mailing address, or other method acceptable to
the coordinator.
4D2. A copy of these regulations, and The SMVM ABSTRACT OF THE LAW OF LAND WARFARE (FM 27-10), QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERS OF MILITIAS AND OTHER VOLUNTEER CORPS IDENTIFICATION will be provided to the new member. New members will also be provided with an SMVM and MILITIA uniform tab and Level 1 or Level 2 qualification uniform tab, and a copy of THE SMVM ALERT SITUATIONS AND ALERT CONDITIONS handout.
4D3. The SMVM will provide an ID Card as soon as practical, preferably at a public meeting or training.
4D4. The cost of the items
provided in 4D2, and 4D3, above, will be borne by The SMVM, as long as it is
practical to do so.
4E. To maintain voting status, all members must re-qualify for Level
One or Field Support requirements on a calendar year basis. On completion
of the requirements (all within a 60 day period) a member is entitled to
vote for the remainder of that year, as well as the entire following year.
As of January 1 of each year, qualification must have been achieved within
the previous 12 months in order to have the right to vote.
A person who has not completed Level One or Field Support requirements
will still be encouraged to participate in militia activities. They simply
will not be able to vote on any SMVM issues that arise. You are all members
of the unorganized militia, whether you like it or not, but to vote within
the SMVM, you need to demonstrate ability and equipment.
4E2. Whereas availability of training areas in
which to accomplish an entire Level One qualification or re-qualification in one
training session may be limited, persons who have qualified Level One previously
may re-qualify to maintain voting status by hitting eight out of ten shots on a
nine-inch paper plate at 100 yards from any position, field expedient or
otherwise, with witness requirements as above. Persons so doing will retain
voting status for the current calendar year, and the following calendar year.
Chapter II: Elections
1. Terms of service: The SMVM Coordinator shall serve for a term of one
year. Terms shall expire on April 19th of each year. Elections shall be
held between March 15 and April 19 at a scheduled or adequately announced
meeting.
2. The County Coordinator shall lose their position upon leaving the SMVM,
disavowing their membership, or other conduct unbecoming as determined by a
majority vote of the membership.
2A. Any voting member may request a vote at a public meeting for a
vote of "no confidence" on the Coordinator at any time. Such vote will be
held at the following public meeting. If a simple majority of the SMVM
votes "no confidence" regarding the Coordinator, an immediate vote for
removal from office will be called for, and an election to fill the
remaining term of the Coordinator will be immediately held.
2B. In the event of temporary incapacitation of the Coordinator, the
Deputy Coordinator will be the acting Coordinator until the elected
Coordinator returns to service. If the Coordinator is incapacitated for a
period longer than 90 days, an election will be held at the next public
meeting to fill the remainder of Coordinator's term.
3. Removal from SMVM: A member may lose the right of voting membership in
the SMVM by a vote of 2/3 of the membership at a scheduled public meeting.
4. Pay and Allowances
4A. Pay: The SMVM shall consist of members who are unpaid volunteers.
4B. Uniforms: Responsibility and cost of all uniforms shall be that of
each member.
4C. Equipment: Responsibility and cost of all personal equipment will
be that of each member.
Chapter III: Funding and Property
1. Funding
1A. Donations. The SMVM may cheerfully accept donations, however, it
shall not accept any donations which would place any obligations upon the
SMVM.
1B. Federal, State, and local funding, grants, loans, etc.
Except for conditions specified in the US Constitution, Art 1, Sec. 8, or
the Constitution of the State of Michigan, no funding shall be accepted
from any branch or level of any government. Ever.
2. Property.
2A. Private. No private property shall be used without the consent of
the lawful owner.
2B. Public. Any use of public lands shall comply with any local,
state, or other ordinances, as long as said ordinances do not violate the
Constitution of the USA, or the State of Michigan. Individuals are
responsible for themselves. SMVM shall not be held liable for use of said
public lands.
2C. Militia. Any SMVM expenditure over $100 per month will require a
majority vote at a scheduled staff or public meeting.
3. Debt. At no time will the SMVM ever go into debt, nor will it accept any
donations which shall encumber the SMVM by any debt or obligation.
4. No member shall ever attempt to use coercion, threats, or the
implication of such threats to secure donations.
5. The SMVM Treasurer shall keep a record of operating expenses for
review by the voting membership.
6. Fund raising events. The SMVM shall, from time to time, host fund
raising events.
Chapter IV: Association
1. Association. The SMVM may provide support and information to other
militias within Michigan to facilitate an increased effectiveness of the
operation of the several units.
2. Meetings. Some form of public meeting or training shall be scheduled at
least monthly. Meetings will be chaired by the Coordinator or an elected
chairman. Weekly staff meetings, restricted to staff, team leaders, county
reps, and invited guests, may be organized by the Coordinator. The conduct
of meetings will be organized on a parliamentary basis, applying Robert's
Rules of Order as necessary. Provision will be made for absentee voting.
Chapter V: Conduct
1. Discipline. The primary mechanism for discipline shall be the
individual.
2. Law. The SMVM shall support and obey all laws that do not conflict with
the Constitution of the State or the United States. It is of note that the
U.S. Supreme Court has stated that any law which conflicts with the
Constitution is not a law at all, and may be freely ignored. This is not
legal advice; you are responsible for your own actions and the consequences
thereof.
3. Except where required by law, enforcement of laws, or in situations
dictated by extreme emergency, such as in the case of invasion or
insurrection, no member shall conspire, plan, scheme, plot, or engage in
committing acts of terrorism, mayhem, or destruction against any persons,
places, entities, or agencies.
Chapter VI: Taking Up Arms
1. Call-Out
1A. The SMVM will have periodic musters or training as a test and
maintenance of the unit's capacity to respond to incidents which would
require the unit's action.
1B. The SMVM may not be used against unarmed, law-abiding citizens of
Michigan or of any other state, nor shall the SMVM be used against any
armed citizens who are defending their life, families, property, or the
Constitution of Michigan, or the United States.
1C. The SMVM may not be used against any police or other governmental
authority, unless said governmental authority is engaged in flagrant
violation of the Constitution, and their oath of office, and only after
said authority has been given notice and warning, and been advised of the
nature of the violations, with proper citations, and provided with an
opportunity to cease and desist their unconstitutional actions.
2. Taking Up Arms. The SMVM shall take up arms only to defend the lives,
families, properties, and rights of the citizens of the State of Michigan,
or to defend the Constitution of the State of Michigan or of the United
States. The SMVM shall also take up arms, as provided for in the US
Constitution, to suppress insurrections, repel invasions, or enforce the
laws of the land.
3. No one shall be compelled to participate in a conflict which he or she
cannot fully and willfully support in his or her heart. No one shall be
compelled to bear arms.
4. Assistance and Aid Requested from Other Units. The SMVM shall, with a
simple majority vote, come to the aid of any other unit within the State of
Michigan, provided that the other unit is acting within the limits of the
Constitution.
5. The SMVM shall not be used beyond the boundaries of the State of
Michigan except where specified by law.
Chapter VII: Other Provisions
1. Cooperation with Civil Authorities. The SMVM will at all times be
respectful of the rights of the citizens of this state, and respective of
the civil authorities wherein it serves.
2. Responsibility. It is the responsibility and duty of every member of the
SMVM and all leaders who direct them, to not perform any action which is
injurious to the rights, life, liberty and property of the citizens of this
state without due and just cause for the defense of the state and/or the
United States of America, in spirit and letter of the Constitutions of the
aforementioned entities, and in upholding the aforesaid rights, life,
liberty and property of all of the citizens therein.
3. Put Down Insurrections. The SMVM shall be used to suppress insurrections
against the laws of the state of Michigan and/or the county they represent,
which laws are held to be constitutional under the Constitution of the
State of Michigan and/or the Constitution of the United States of America.
4. Provide for emergency aid. In times of tornados, storms, floods, riots,
and any other natural or man-made emergencies, the SMVM may be called forth
to aid local civil authorities, by providing security, assisting in
disaster relief, and providing other services necessary to secure the
safety, peace, and just laws of the state.
5. The SMVM coordinator shall, with the assistance of the members, be
responsible for the enforcement of these, and any further regulations.
6. These regulations may be amended by a two thirds vote of the voting
membership that is present at a scheduled public meeting. Persons wishing
to propose an amendment shall submit their proposal in writing to the
Coordinator or his designated representative, or post said
regulation change on the SMVM forums, no later than one week prior to the next
public meeting. The regulation change will then be voted on at the next
scheduled public meeting.
Chapter VIII: Member rights
1. Each member has, within, and as a part of, the SMVM, all of the rights
enumerated in the Constitution of Michigan, and of the United States. No
member shall be compelled to belong to, embrace, adhere to, or identify
with any religion, cult, sect, denomination, rite, or synod. Also, no
member shall be prevented from belonging to, embracing, adhering to, or
identifying with any religion, cult, sect, denomination, rite, or synod.
2. Members of the SMVM shall be entitled to receive any relevant legal
information about themselves of which the SMVM may become aware. Each
member shall, specifically, be informed of any pending legal action,
summons, subpoena, prosecution, persecution, or warrant that the SMVM
becomes aware of, where at all legally possible.
3. Any regulations notwithstanding, each individual shall be responsible
for his or her own actions. The enumeration of these member's rights shall
not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the members.
Chapter IX Enabling and Continuity
To ensure continuity of operations, the current Coordinator and Staff of
The Wayne County Militia shall assume the same positions as part of The
SMVM, until scheduled elections, or until elections are called for by a
majority of the members, whichever comes sooner. All previous WCM votes,
interests, and business will carry over to SMVM business. This chapter
shall have no effect after April 19, 2005, and will no longer then be a
part of the SMVM Regulations.
