Last Feb. 08, a bill called the “Preventing Private Paramilitary Activity Act” was advanced by Democratic lawmakers Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) The proposed legislation aims to bar privately organized paramilitary groups from functioning in public and from using their paramilitary training in serving the public as security services units, or as providers of combat support, or as members of law enforcement agencies.
The bill specifically states prohibiting private paramilitary organizations from engaging in training, patrolling, or participating in activities that interfere with government actions or public exercise of constitutional rights.
What Exactly is the “Preventing Private Paramilitary Activity Act” Proposed by Dems Raskin and Markey?
The proposed law prohibits private paramilitary organizations or citizen militias to act on behalf of, or with law enforcement agencies without official authority; while armed with dangerous weapons like firearms, explosives and other incendiary devices.
According to House Representative Raskin and Senator Markey, their proposed legislation aims to make it clear that domestic extremists and their paramilitary operations are not protected by the US Constitution.
The said bill delineates a private paramilitary organization as “any group of three or more individuals who band and work together under a command structure and with intentions to train and subsequently function in public as armed fighters or providers of support for armed attacks; or as providers of security services.
Although the rioters and demonstrators involved in the Januar o6 siege of the Capitol in 2021 did not use firearms or other deadly weapons they are examples of citizens militia groups who had violent intentions of disrupting Congress from confirming t e election of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the US.
Many of the rioters used pepper spray and various forms of blunt objects when they clashed with the Capitol City Police on that day. Some individuals have also been charged for having firearms and other deadly weapons in their person while on Capitol grounds that day. Apparently they were members of the Oath Keepers militia group using portable communication devices to coordinate their assault actions.
Proposed Bill States Exceptions to Definition of Private Paramilitary Activity
The bill states exclusions from the prohibition rules, naming as exceptions military reserve components, members of the National Guard, and members of other national or state-organized groups authorized to undergo military training for purposes of conducting military reenactments; but without any intent to engage in armed conflict, especially if to interfere with democratic activities.