Conservative Gun Rights Group Building Themselves a Prison Citadel

As reported at Talking Points Memo and , apparently, the Drudge Report (whose archives link to this "article"), a conservative group known as the "III Citadel Project" is planning on building a fortress in Idaho where they can live with each other and their guns. It will have high walls (three levels), guard towers, housing made out of concrete, limited access, controlled conditions and conduct on the interior, and mandatory drilling. In other words, it sounds like a prison. But that's their choice.

The "III" in the name "III Citadel Project" represents their belief -- shared by a number of extremist groups  -- that only three percent of Americans fought in the Revolutionary War. Three percent of the current U.S. population is more than 9 million people, which is the importance of the "statistic": that's enough, they believe, to "win."

They say they are going to abide by all "Constitutional" federal and state laws. When our society has a dispute about what is constitutional, we have an independent body, called judges, who decide in specific cases whether the law is constitutional. I suspect, however, that  III Citadel Project believes it will be making its own assessments on constitutionality.

Where I think things really break down, though, is that the folks behind the III Citadel Project have a particularly odd idea of "liberty."

Freedom of conscience, I believe, is fundamental to liberty. The III Citadel Project, however, states repeatedly:

Marxists, Socialists, Liberals and Establishment Republicans will likely find that life in our community is incompatible with their existing ideology and preferred lifestyles.

(Bold in original.)

In addition, members over 13 years old are required to be proficient in shooting a rifle and a handgun; "maintain one AR15 variant in 5.56mm NATO, at least 5 magazines and 1,000 rounds of ammunition"; remain armed when in public at all times; have a family member attend muster and military training at least once a month; attend "coming of age" ceremonies for 13 year olds; and participate in the twice-yearly defense drills.

That's all something they have a right to voluntarily agree to (as long as they do not break in federal, state, or local laws), and violations are treated by no more than "expulsion" or breach of contract. Imposing such requirements, though, is obviously something short of "freedom."

Anyway.

I am wondering what their plan is for medical care once they start shooting each other.