Click the first link on your source and the headline that appears is "Petitioners promote same-sex marriage measure". That's what you get for relying on AP reporting.

Actually, this seems less organized than Syria. Can you imagine the "command and control" protocols for use of deadly force? I can. Think i'll take 97 on the next drive south.

Note to self: stay away from Josephine County.

If I were an off-the-grid/John Galt/pot desperado type, I would be in Southern Oregon. I'm guessing that many freaks from across the country are figuring that out. Certainly pot growers have. We get the sex offenders and unemployed hipsters up here in Portland. Oregon sure knows how to attract people who will be a burden on society for years to come. Hope we keep food stamp sign-up forms available at the border.

The Second Amendment actually calls for a "well regulated militia." We're pretty far from that, as is Josephine County I imagine.

"......how to respond to burglaries and other crimes."

Last spring the Sheriff down there cut his jail bed capacity in half. I'm not sure I want to know what this group of 7 will do with the perps they catch. With room for only 50 or 60 dangerous offenders it doesn't leave a lot of extra jail space for burglars and peeping toms.

County doesn't have the money. Citizens take up the slack. I don't see a problem here. At least, not with the Sheriff and the volunteers.

And I'm sure they will appreciate your staying away from Josephine County.

"Well regulated" didn't mean at all in 1789 what is imputed today.

G Joubert "Well regulated" didn't mean at all in 1789 what is imputed today.
JK: Right. As old dictionaries show, it meant smooth running, competent, capable.

Thanks
JK

What happens in a vacuum?

With pathetic public education, the private sector stepped in, including 'home schooling', online Ed, etc.

The same will happen with other poorly provided government services, like security (gated communities, renta cops, ...). I expect to see more of this DIY stuff. When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.

hmmmm what to choose in Portland ..do I even call the police?

Here in Montana, my neighbors are better armed, saner and less aggressive than the police. Chalk one up for the people.

The idea that people need to take up citizen armed patrols for lack of adequate police funding isn't commendable, it's tragic. It's a direct reflection of a much larger socio-economic failure and the beginning of darker times. That is not to say those willing to help are not to be commended.

And I'm sure they (the citizens, not the government) plow and pave the streets, haul the garbage away, provide safe drinking water for everyone, mow the grass at the community park...

Or, maybe not.

So are the city slickers in Portland actually better off? They pay high taxes for a well-compensated police force, yet rogue cops (of which there seem to be quite a few) rarely get disciplined.

We have a long history of relying on volunteers in such areas as mountain search/rescue and rural firefighting, so maybe we should reserve judgement on Josephine county.

Last spring the Sheriff down there cut his jail bed capacity in half. I'm not sure I want to know what this group of 7 will do with the perps they catch.

Let´s just say that the lack of holding cells won´t be a problem for them.

We have a long history of relying on volunteers in such areas as mountain search/rescue and rural firefighting, so maybe we should reserve judgement on Josephine county.

It´s one thing for volunteers to lend a hand where they have specialized training and are placed under the supervision of professional law enforment officers. It´s quite another to take up arms and attempt to act in the capacity of law enforcement.

Yes. Absolutely!

Because we all know that the supervision by professional law enforcement is the best, especially in Oregon, and most especially in Portland.

Erik H., they do just that aka taxes. Or do you think that the money used for that is just printed up? Wait a minute, maybe you have a point as we are just printing up money to pay for things these days.

Its kind of funny reading so many comments from PDX area residents about the Josephine County folks and their "milita"..

Why does anybody in the PDX area think that they have a more professional and organized police force?

The PPB?

The Gresham Transit Police phone grabbers?

If you thing the PPB is not professional and organized - and if you look at my posting history you´ll note that I´m anything but an apologist for some of their behaviors - just wait until you see what this vigilante force serves up.