Militia groups say they defend the rights of others. But in Pennsylvania, 28 militia organizations are listed on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s list of anti-government groups.
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Birth of a militia: Men in uniform Harri Leigh
To keep the peace, they dress for war.
“If you re an average civilian walking down the street and you walk up on me and I m carrying a battle rifle, I m carrying seven magazines, a sidearm in military garb. Would you be scared? Damn right, you would. And sometimes that s needed,” said Christian Yingling, founder of the newly-formed Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia. “Not being scared, but not being brazen either.”
Previous to the Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia, Yingling was the leader of one company of the Pennsylvania Light Foot Militia.
The Pennsylvania Light Foot Militia is associated with the national Light Foot Militia, which the ACLED classifies as having a low history of and moderate potential for violence.