WHO WE ARE
In summary, a Constitutional Militia is a disciplined association of armed, trained citizens committed to operating fully within the bounds of the Constitution and all applicable federal and state law. We are law-abiding Americans united by a shared purpose: to preserve the civil liberties of our communities and to stand prepared to defend them against threats, foreign or domestic.
At a time of declining civic trust and social cohesion, we seek to restore the institution the Founders described as “necessary”—the militia. We train with professionalism and accountability. We engage in community outreach. We organize responsibly. In doing so, we aim to embody what a “well-regulated” militia was always meant to be: prepared, principled, and grounded in the rule of law.
WHO WE ARE NOT
Perhaps the best way to define ourselves is to describe what we are not. There are many stereotypes out there—some of which, to be fair, might have been justified by some of the militia movements of the 80’s and 90’s. But the militia of 2026 isn’t your parents’ militia, so lets debunk a few myths:
We are not a paramilitary group.
There's a lot of confusion on this, so allow us to shed some light. "Illegal paramilitary activity" in Virginia is defined as when a group or entity trains with the intent to employ the knowledge and skills gained from such training for the purposes of exercising civil disorder, or to unlawfully intimidate any other person or entity.
This doesn't prohibit corporate training with firearms. It doesn't even prohibit corporate training in things like small unit tactics or infantry skills. It just means you can't train with the specific intent of using that training to commit a crime.
We are not the stereotypes.
We aren't the labels that leftist extremists try to project on us. We also don't really care anymore.
We are lawyers, mechanics, doctors, and moms. We are experienced former military, and we are software engineers. We are your friends and neighbors, fellow congregants, and your co-workers. We accept people of all races, and we welcome people of all creeds that comport with the founding principles.
We’re a diverse community, and this allows us to better serve and represent the citizens in our jurisdictions. The core ideal that brings us together is our love for liberty, the founding principles, and a willingness to defend them.
We stand for all civil liberties, not just the 2A.
We do NOT exist only for the purpose of preserving Second Amendment rights. We exist for the purpose of preserving all civil liberties for all citizens, which include not just those outlined in the Bill of Rights, but other natural rights as well.
In short, if it's guaranteed by either the state or federal constitutions, we're for it.
The Virginia Constitutional Militias serve as an informational and decentralized network. We are not a private army; our focus is cultivating more capable, civically minded citizens and building both individual and corporate skillsets that make us an assets to our families, friends, and communities.
FAQ:
(FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS)
Q: Are Constitutional militias legal?
A: Yes. As explained above, militias enjoy a rich history in American society and law, and despite having largely been neglected for the last century and a half, their existence is still enshrined in current law.
Q: What about feds?
A: What about them? Again, nothing about militias is illegal. As a general principle, it's a good idea to just assume that there are government assets that either know about your group or are actively involved in it. That said, the worst thing you can do (if you take the 2A seriously) is to fail to train corporately. That is planning to fail from the outset. You can be the best shooter in the world, but if you don't know how to shoot, move, and communicate in a team setting, you are not an asset; you're a liability.
While it's a good idea to be discerning about membership and general OPSEC, in an age where being online means that virtually everything about you is already known to those who want to know it, it's both futile and counter-productive to be so cautious that you fail to act. Be smart and be discerning, but at the end of the day, you have to be organizing and training if you take seriously the mandate we're given in the 2nd Amendment.
Q: Why not just join the National Guard or VDF?
A: While both institutions serve valuable functions, they do not fulfill the same purpose as the unorganized militia. One is not trained to arms (the VDF) and the other is structured more like a federally commissioned standing army (the Virginia National Guard).
That isn't to discount or diminish either organization's contributions; both have served with distinction and are assets to the commonwealth.
Q: Why should I join a militia?
A: "Because they are necessary to the security of a free state" should be the obvious answer. It's a civic duty. Yes, it's one that hasn't been mainstream for a very long time (the very concept of "civic duty" fell out of the cultural ethos years ago), but that's exactly what we're trying to change.
Other answers:
-It's great community, especially in an age where real, meaningful social interaction is hard to come by.
-It's free training. A single firearms class can cost upwards of $500 for an 8 hour course. The quality of the training programs offered by our member organizations is often either on par with or exceeds that of paid classes.
-To become a more competent, confident leader. Building skillsets in a team setting is one of the best ways to challenge yourself; it builds accountability into self-improvement.
-To help your friends and neighbors. The power of corporate, organized community initiatives dwarfs what you can accomplish by yourself. Virtually all of our member organizations are heavily involved in their communities, from hosting blood drives to disaster relief efforts.
Q: What if there's no militia in my general area?
A: You've got two options--be ok with driving a bit further for group events or (better yet), create your own! We've put together some resources for you--we call it "Militia in a Box"--that will provide you with a detailed template on how to organize and structure a militia. You can find it here: Militia In a Box