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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