OHIO

     The first few months of 1995 were marked by the
widespread organizing throughout the state of the "Ohio
Unorganized Militia" -- loose-knit groups that conduct
various paramilitary exercises. However, low attendance at
meetings since the Oklahoma City bombing suggests that the
militia movement in Ohio may have lost some strength.

     The Ohio Unorganized Militia has justified its activity
by citing both the U.S. Constitution's Second Amendment and
a provision of state law: the Ohio Revised Code provides for
an "unorganized militia ... of all able-bodied citizens of
the state who are more than 17 years of age and not more
than 67 years of age." The group has been active in
Franklin, Brown, Clermont, Hamilton, Stark, Coshocton.
Columbiana, Williams. Lucas, Medina and Montgomery Counties.

     Despite the claimed legal basis for its existence, the
militia has used highly inflammatory language. Rod Scott, a
captain in the Brown County group, has stated: "Any armed
agent of the United States Government who comes to my home
or any militia member's home to take a gun, to steal my
property, to violate my freedom, will be met with deadly
force. "


~      
ADL Fact Finding Report, "Beyond the Bombing: The Militia
Menace Grows," Anti-Defamation League, 1995.

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