Do you live in North Carolina? Did you know that you are a member of the Militia? The Governor of North Carolina recently signed House Bill 250 , which updated the laws that govern the Militia of North Carolina.

In North Carolina, the Militia is composed of several bodies. First, the North Carolina National Guard

The North Carolina National Guard, both army and air , Army and Air, shall consist of regularly commissioned, warrant and enlisted personnel between such ages as may be within the age limits established by regulations promulgated by the secretary of the appropriate service and shall be organized, governed, armed, equipped and have such the duties and responsibilities as hereinafter provided. provided in this Chapter.

Second, the Naval Militia

The naval militia shall consist of regularly commissioned, warrant and enlisted personnel between such ages as may be within the age limits established by regulations promulgated by the secretary of the appropriate service and shall be organized, governed, armed, equipped and have such the duties and responsibilities as hereinafter provided. provided in this Chapter.

Third, the “State Defense Militia” which is an organized militia not subject to federal call up.

The State defense militia shall consist of commissioned, warrant and enlisted personnel called, ordered, appointed or enlisted therein by the Governor under the provisions of Article 5 of this Chapter and shall be organized, governed, armed, equipped and have such the duties and responsibilities as hereinafter provided. provided in this Chapter.

Fourth, the “Historic Military Commands” which sound interesting, but I don’t know anything about.

Historic military commands are those historic groups which remain active by meeting at least once a month and which follow military procedures. Only such groups as may be designated by the Governor shall fall within this branch of the militia. Any maximum age limits prescribed by this Chapter shall not be applicable do not apply to members of historic military commands.

And finally, the Unorganized Militia.

The unorganized militia shall consist of all other able‑bodied citizens of the State and of the United States and such all other able‑bodied persons who have or shall declare their intention to become citizens of the United States, who shall be at least 17 years of age, except those who have been convicted of a felony or discharged from any component of the military under other than honorable conditions.

You can see from the quoted paragraph that some changes were made to the law governing the Unorganized Militia. This should tell you that if something else was intended, they could have very easily changed it. Unfortunately for those anti-gun types who dispute that the Militia exists, and that it includes much more than the National Guard, this law confirms that each and every able bodied adult citizens of North Carolina, minus a few exceptions, are members of the Militia. Note carefully that it does not restrict militia membership to men. That means that women are also members of the NC Militia. Yay equality!

The Governor can call the militia if she wants to.

The Governor shall, when ordering out the unorganized militia, designate the number. He The Governor may order them out either by calling for volunteers or by draft. He The Governor may attach them to the several organizations of the North Carolina National Guard, the State defense militia or naval militia, as may be best for the service.

If the unorganized militia is ordered out by draft, the Governor shall designate the persons in each county to make the draft, and prescribe rules and regulations for conducting the same . it.

Every member of the militia ordered out for duty, or who shall volunteer or be drafted, who does not appear at the time and place ordered, shall be liable to such punishment as a court‑martial may determine. determined by a court‑martial.

So if the word goes out and you don’t show up as ordered, you get a Court Martial. The Governor doesn’t need to worry about me. If the State is in such a bad bind that I would be considered more of a help than a hindrance, I’ll show up.

There’s even a section where the State will promote marksmanship.

The Adjutant General is authorized to detail a commissioned officer of the North Carolina National Guard or member of the State defense militia to promote rifle marksmanship among the State defense militia and the unorganized militia of the State. Such The officer or member so detailed shall serve without pay and it shall be his duty the duty of the officer or member to organize and supervise rifle clubs in schools, colleges, universities, clubs and other groups, under such rules and regulations as prescribed by the Adjutant General shall prescribe and in such a manner to that will make them, when duly organized, acceptable for membership in the National Rifle Association . Provided, that such these duties and efforts shall in nowise interfere or conflict with clubs of schools or units operating in R.O.T.C. Reserve Officers’ Training Corps or similar schools under the supervision of armed forces instructors. instructors of the Armed Forces of the United States.

Oh, dear. Does that mean that the State is supposed to offer organized marksmanship training in regular schools throughout the State? And worse, these training clubs should be organized in a way acceptable to the evil NRA?!?! I wonder if they will be promoting Appleseed shoots ? Do you think I can convince them to loan me a proper rifle for my training class?