Okla. lawmaker, gubernatorial candidate disavows support for state ‘militia’ to fend off feds

Okla. lawmaker disavows ‘militia’ comments

OKLAHOMA CITY — A darling of the tea party movement who has supported the idea of a volunteer militia said Thursday he expects to win the Oklahoma governor’s race despite criticism of his warning that citizens may need to protect themselves against a federal affront on state sovereignty.

State Sen. Randy Brogdon, R-Owasso, said in an interview with The Associated Press that his message resonates with voters who will select a replacement for term-limited Gov. Brad Henry, a Democrat, in November.

“I stand on constitutional principles,” Brogdon said. “That is right dead center of the thoughts and the values and the ideas of Oklahomans. I’m not out of the mainstream. I am standing on solid ground, and my platform is the Constitution of the United States, the protection of the rule of law.”

Brogdon, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, said in an AP story Monday that a citizen militia is authorized by state law and the U.S. Constitution and that the Second Amendment “deals directly with the right of an individual to keep and bear arms to protect themselves from an overreaching federal government.”

At the time, Brogdon and some local tea party leaders indicated a militia could be used to stop federal encroachment into state’s rights. Brogdon has since said he spoke only of a new National Guard-type unit to aid the state during civil emergencies. In a number of media appearances this week he said he never used the term “militia” in his AP interview.

Brogdon used it five times.

“Is a state militia a good idea? It probably is. Because it, again, it would just reinforce the, the attitude and the belief that you and I have the right to keep and bear arms and to provide and protect our families from an overreaching federal government. I think it’s a great idea,” Brogdon said in the interview conducted last week.

Separately Thursday, a state House member who said he expected the Oklahoma Legislature to see a militia-related bill during next year’s session said he was not sure a bill would be prepared.

“I do not expect legislation to be filed, but I can’t predict the future,” said state Rep. Charles Key, R-Oklahoma City. “There’s 101 members out here (in the House) and 48 over there (in the Senate). How could I make a statement that it will or won’t?” He told AP last week he thought there was a “better than 50-50 chance” such a bill would be filed.

Brogdon said last week and again Thursday he did not know how a new state guard would be set up.

“If we have an opportunity to have a volunteer force to complement that National Guard, I think that is a great idea, to take care of the citizens of this state when the National Guard has been deployed,” Brogdon said before addressing a crowd of about 500 people at a Sooner Tea Party rally.