Oath Keepers

On August 23 Seraphim said... As a conservative la...

2009-09-29T19:13:02.514-07:00

On August 23 Seraphim said...
As a conservative law student, I am not sure that the "declaration of ten orders we will not obey" is Constitutionally grounded, and it certainly needs better wording.
[snip]
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That's strange Seraphim because Mr Rhodes wrote that and he was the winner of the Yale Law School Miller Prize.

Stewart graduated from Yale Law School in 2004, where his paper “Solving the Puzzle of Enemy Combatant Status” won Yale’s Miller prize for best paper on the Bill of Rights.
He assisted teaching U.S. military history at Yale, was a Yale Research Scholar, and is writing a book on the dangers of applying the laws of war to the American people.

So ... what law school prizes have you won ?

Not on Our Watch

PLEASE will someone look into this?? It's frig...

2009-09-29T19:08:27.569-07:00

PLEASE will someone look into this?? It's frightening.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryagFq-vMJs

Anyone ever heard of this Police Authority outfit?

Anonymous said... What happened / Where were t...

2009-09-29T17:54:15.400-07:00

Anonymous said...
What happened / Where were the oathkeepers during Katrina when the police and national guard went around to private homes and confiscated lawfully owned and legal weapons?
September 22, 2009 2:27 PM
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Oath keepers was not formed until March of 2009. You want what ? For us to have time travel and we can go back in time to correct the wrongs ?

Where were You ?

Why weren't YOU there crying out against the violations of the Constitution ?

The events in NOLA spurred the creation of Oath Keepers.
Oath Keepers was created on March 2nd, 2009.

Travis said... Training, training, training. W...

2009-09-29T17:20:59.768-07:00

Travis said...
Training, training, training. We need to bring training to the site.
September 24, 2009 3:36 PM
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We are training on the site Travis.
The Only kind of training we will ever do here ....
Reach, Teach and Inspire.

To Reach out to all of our fellow Oath takers and ...

To Teach them if they don't know or have "forgotten" the responsibilities we agreed to when we swore that Oath.

To Inspire all oath takers to become Oath Keepers.

To Inspire all of our Active Duty or Reserve Military and Active Duty or Reserve Peace Officers to Keep the Oath they swore and to refuse to Obey any unlawful order no matter the source of that order but specifically the 10 orders we will NOT Obey.

CaptGooch

There have been many remarks made about the curren...

2009-09-26T17:27:37.758-07:00

There have been many remarks made about the current shrtage of ammunition. Some have said it is fear that the Federal Government will outlaw guns. Others have suggested that the "extreme right" is preparing for a revolution. But really the cause is that with such a weak CINC, we had bestg be well prepared to defend ourselves. Isoruko Yamamoto, the architecht of the Pearl Harbor raid said (having been exposed to American culture) that any attempt to invade the American Mainland would fail because "THERE WOULD BE A RIFLE BEHIND EVERY BLADE OF GRASS" Mao Tse=Tung also wrote "Political power grows from the barrel of a gun". This is why the Left wants to disarm us; and it is why we must resist, and it is for that reason that the bSecond Amendment is enshrined in the Bill of Rights.

The gear is outstanding. I will be ordering soon. ...

2009-09-24T19:47:42.254-07:00

The gear is outstanding. I will be ordering soon. Semper Fi and all stay safe. Jim

Training, training, training. We need to bring tra...

2009-09-24T15:36:01.587-07:00

Training, training, training. We need to bring training to the site.

The Oath has to change from "Fight Enemies, F...

2009-09-24T10:30:12.164-07:00

The Oath has to change from "Fight Enemies, Foreign and Domestic" to "Fight Enemies, Foreign and (Corrupt Politicians, any organization or individual who undermines the sovereignty of the American people).
If this was in place..Politicians would be walking a straight line and they wouldn't be running the Country into the ground as it's happening right now!

I just wandered into your blog from a Targeted Ind...

2009-09-23T15:12:21.397-07:00

I just wandered into your blog from a Targeted Individual's blog. It almost restores my faith in America to see your oath and the military personnel scrambling to get behind it. However, I want you guys to know that in your oath, articles 2 (warrantless searches), 6 (blockading cities), 7 (detention camps), and 10 (peaceful assembly) are being subverted in ways you might not fully understand unless you're involved with the cutting edge of military/intelligence weaponry right now.

Directed Energy Weapons are being used against citizens of the United States to torture and murder them. Thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, are being herded into electronic concentration camps that can't be escaped because the attacks come from satellites that can reach anywhere on the surface of the globe. I myself currently live in a radiation shielded apartment, but I have to go outside occasionally.

In addition to the DEW's, advanced surveillance violates our privacy in ways you can't even imagine unless, as I've said, you're at the cutting edge.

There are also psychological warfare tactics involved.

In essence, what we're experiencing is a new kind of warfare, state-to-person warfare, of a kind not seen since East Germany. I've read compelling research indicating that East Germany was allowed to happen, and that the East German dictatorship was a 'trial run' for what is now being rolled out in the United States and other NATO nations.

It's great that you guys have got guns and are ready to use them to defend the Constitution, but I think that gunpowder (and the Constitution) are being turned into quaint historical oddities as we speak.

Keep building your momentum. I think your site looks great. But you need to be aware that there's much more going on, than meets the eye.

What happened / Where were the oathkeepers during ...

2009-09-22T14:27:08.205-07:00

What happened / Where were the oathkeepers during Katrina when the police and national guard went around to private homes and confiscated lawfully owned and legal weapons?

Patrick, I just now saw your comment. Thanks for ...

2009-09-21T03:29:39.125-07:00

Patrick, I just now saw your comment. Thanks for the input. I'll give those links a close look. Please join our ning network over at the new site, and when you do, drop me a personal message in our forum system.

Stewart Rhodes

If we want to really defend our great Constitution...

2009-09-17T18:51:12.994-07:00

If we want to really defend our great Constitution, contribute to the ACLU.

Hey, I come from Germany and I´m tryin´ to fight t...

2009-09-16T11:59:42.062-07:00

Hey, I come from Germany and I´m tryin´ to fight the NWO right here! I respect you officers for what you stand for and your action and I wish you the best!
GOD bless YOU!

i am a vietnam era veteran. i am now crippled with...

2009-09-14T21:27:31.934-07:00

i am a vietnam era veteran. i am now crippled with parkinsons disease. i am terrified of Barack Hussein Obama.
here is my blog if you wish to visit:
http://veteransofusa.blogspot.com/

Blessings All Forgot I want a patch and two tabs. ...

2009-09-09T15:04:21.929-07:00

Blessings All
Forgot I want a patch and two tabs.
Thank you
In Love & In Light
Tamara

Blessings All I have stood up for the Oath I took ...

2009-09-09T15:02:36.267-07:00

Blessings All
I have stood up for the Oath I took in Jan,1972 and will stand up for it till the day I leave this plane of life. I will support my rights and the rights of all Americans to the death if I need to. I will not give up my rights. We are all Sisters and Brothers and together we can take back the USA.
In Love & In Light
Tamara ,AZ

I would like a long-sleeve T-shirt, a patch and ta...

2009-09-08T11:30:52.685-07:00

I would like a long-sleeve T-shirt, a patch and tab BUT I will NOT use Paypal. It is my understanding they are bigtime Anti-Second Amendment.

Is there an address where we can send a check or other manner to order and pay?

Thanks,

Paladin

The Progressives have us surrounded! The poor b_s...

2009-09-08T11:15:23.645-07:00

The Progressives have us surrounded! The poor b_s_ards.

We have acheived the optimum offensive position. We can advance in any direction and engage the enemy.

Praise to the Lord!

Paladin

Welcome to you both Rurik and Robert O. Please do...

2009-09-01T09:02:37.819-07:00

Welcome to you both Rurik and Robert O.

Please do swing by our new website at oathkeepers.org.

For the Republic

CaptGooch

Matt said... I like the premise of the websit...

2009-09-01T08:59:39.904-07:00

Matt said...

I like the premise of the website; the guiding principles in the military are difficult to find in these changing times. I do NOT see a need for an assault weapons ban today. You did NOT put much thought into putting that addition to your declaration other than attracting more potential members. I welcome being tracked as a gun owner, I have nothing to hide. Our founding fathers did NOT hear the 6-9 round burst heard 'round the world. NOT for naught, this will tie your mind in knots.
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Matt,

The AWB is not included in our mission because it has nothing to do with our mission as Oath Keepers.

Our mission is to prevent the need for AW's of any kind by converting the oath takers presently in the employ of those who would try to impose tyranny upon the American people into Oath Keepers who's only duty is to support and defend the Constitution and the people of these united States.

Any unlawful order has to have someone to enforce it.
When there are no willing enforcers who will impose the tyranny ?

That is the goal of Oath Keepers.
To turn all oath takers into Oath Keepers.

I post under my screen name because that is how I&...

2009-08-26T14:07:48.842-07:00

I post under my screen name because that is how I'm fairly well known at a number of blogsites and forums.
I am an Army veteran of the Viet Nam conflict. I reaffirm the oath I originally took to the US Constitution, and swear I will not cooperate with any orders contrary to its principles. I stand with Oath Keepers.
-Rurik - aka George Mellinger

Bill, some very good info and, of course, you now ...

2009-08-25T09:42:56.741-07:00

Bill, some very good info and, of course, you now have me running off tracking this down... there goes my day. ;-)
Good post.

I feel it is vitally important for everyone to see...

2009-08-25T08:50:21.413-07:00

I feel it is vitally important for everyone to see how we arrived here, and then you may have a clearer picture of the circumstances. This information can be verified in quadruplicate and is as factual as the sun coming up in the morning. Most people think that the FED money scam is the beginning of the loss or our republic but this obviously came first. The foundation of the modern educational system. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBNh543A81U&feature=player_embedded

[cont'd] 6. We will NOT obey any order to...

2009-08-23T15:11:09.588-07:00
[cont'd]

6. We will NOT obey any order to blockade American cities, thus turning them into giant concentration camps.

This is a good provision, assuming that the blockade is not a Constitutionally-authorized response to a rebellion.

7. We will NOT obey any order to force American citizens into any form of detention camps under any pretext.

Again, a good provision, assuming that the citizens in question are not engaged in rebellion against the United States -- in which case the oath to uphold the Constitution and defend against its enemies would take precedence.

8. We will NOT obey orders to assist or support the use of any foreign troops on U.S. soil against the American people to “keep the peace” or to “maintain control."

Why is this unlawful or unconstitutional? U.S. troops daily assist or support foreign troops on foreign soil to "keep the peace" or "help maintain control." See: Germany, Japan, Korea, Afghanistan, Iraq, etc.

If something disastrous were to happen in the United States, such that public order broke down and the federal and state governments could no longer keep order on their own, there's no legal or Constitutional reason forbidding foreign troops from helping restore order at government direction.

9. We will NOT obey any orders to confiscate the property of the American people, including food and other essential supplies.

Again, who are "the American people?" Seizure of property has always been lawful when coupled with appropriate due process -- in fact, the Fourth Amendment expressly permits reasonable seizures.

10. We will NOT obey any orders which infringe on the right of the people to free speech, to peaceably assemble, and to petition their government for a redress of grievances.

This is an excellent provision, assuming the Oath Keeper in question understands that none of the above rights are unlimited, and understands the legal limitations of those rights.

For example, free speech does not include the right to scream obscenities at a preacher in church.

Peaceable assembly does not include the right to assemble wherever one chooses with no regard to who owns the property or what inconvenience or impediment the assembly causes.

Petition for redress of grievances does not include the right to harass state officials.

And so on.

As you can see, there are several serious issues with the Oath Keepers' Declaration. While my opinion does not constitute legal counsel, I strongly believe that, as currently written, the Oath Keepers' Declaration actually encourages unconstitutional and illegal behavior.

Peace.

As a conservative law student, I am not sure that ...

2009-08-23T15:10:36.176-07:00
As a conservative law student, I am not sure that the "declaration of ten orders we will not obey" is Constitutionally grounded, and it certainly needs better wording. From the top:

1. We will NOT obey orders to disarm the American people.

Are convicted felons part of "the American people"? How about American citizens presently engaged in commission of violent crimes? How about American citizens bearing arms on property where the lawful proprietor has demanded disarmament? It's completely Constitutional and lawful to obey an order to disarm any of the above, even though they may well be part of "the American People." I would suggest that this provision has too much wiggle room.

2. We will NOT obey orders to conduct warrantless searches of the American people.

Reread the Fourth Amendment. There is no express provision that all searches must have search warrants, and warrantless searches under certain conditions have always been lawful in the United States. I would suggest modifying this provision to apply to unlawful warrantless searches.

3. We will NOT obey orders to detain American citizens as “unlawful enemy combatants” or to subject them to military tribunal.

What about soldiers? They're American citizens subject to military tribunals, and always have been.

What about an American citizen who expressly disclaims allegiance to the United State and expressly claims allegiance to what the Geneva Conventions would call an "irregular" combatant organization? Having ratified the Geneva Conventions, they have the force of law on the United States, and expressly permit irregular combatants to be detained in war zones. Why would this be so unlawful that it would break an oath to the Constitution?

4. We will NOT obey orders to impose martial law or a “state of emergency” on a state.

Article I, Section 9 of the Constitution expressly provides for the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus -- which is equivalent to the imposition of martial law. As such, disobeying orders consonant with a lawful suspension of the writ would actually be unconstitutional. I would suggest seriously modifying this provision.

5. We will NOT obey orders to invade and subjugate any state that asserts its sovereignty.

You should clarify that "state" means "one of the United States," and not "other country."

In addition, why not? According to the Framers of the Constitution, sovereignty vests in We the People as a whole, not in any State. This is why the Constitution was ratified by the People, rather than by state legislatures or officials. Just as the majority of people among the States voted to make the Constitution binding over the States (and, representatively, to add new States to the Union), so must the majority of the People vote to grant any given State sovereignty against the United States. This is a basic principle of constitutional law. As such, if a State were to unilaterally assert its sovereignty against the United States, this would be equivalent to rebellion, which the Constitution expressly authorizes the United Sates to suppress.