As Nassau County residents, we are deeply disturbed by County Executive Bruce Blakeman’s proposed formation of a Nassau County militia. This proposed militia is unnecessary and dangerous. Deputizing gun owning private citizens for undefined situations Blakeman deems as emergencies, could result in vigilantism, friendly fire police deaths from untrained, uncoordinated squads; and pits neighbor against neighbor. 

Blakeman’s militia formation process is highly problematic as well, in that it has no transparency, accountability, nor public input. With over 27,000 gun permit holders in Nassau County, there are enormous unanswered questions pertaining to the selection process, the training of the deputy sheriffs, the weapons and other equipment they will be provided by the County, the size of the militia (which could conceivably outnumber Nassau Police 11:1), and whether deputized militia sheriffs in our neighborhoods are to become a new permanent fixture. It also raises important questions about how much the militia will cost taxpayers up-front, and on an ongoing basis, and what the funding source is.

We are demanding Bruce Blakeman do the following: 

• Immediately cease and desist creation of the unnecessary and dangerous militia.
• Stop the nonsense and start doing his job –  such as protecting Long island’s precious natural resources, revitalizing our downtowns, fixing the County's broken assessment system, finding a solution to the Nassau University Medical Center's financial problems, lowering our taxes, etc.