(people chattering) PAUL VOSKA: If Biden gets elected and this country's screwed.

ISABELA LISCO: While selling weapons at a gun show in Fishersville, military veteran, Paul Voska told us he's starting a militia in Augusta County, Virginia.

PAUL VOSKA: Let's just say, and this has happened, you have a police department that is corrupt, and you have local government that's corrupt.

The militia being on the right side of the community and the constitution, and established laws in this country would present a force or an intimidation like, hey, listen, this ain't right.

Knock it off.

ISABELA LISCO: According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, high profile national militias like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers are in decline since January 6th.

However, Virginia militias are working with local law enforcement and organizing at the county level.

(gun shots) PREACHER: You have to self rescue.

One of the mottos that we have is, “nobody's coming to save you,” and you need to treat your life like that.

ISABELA LISCO: Preacher who agreed to talk with us on the condition we use his call sign is a member of a militia called the Virginia Kekoas.

(gun shots) The Kekoas conduct weapons and medical training and show up armed at the state capitol to protest gun control.

PREACHER: I would trust you more than any person who worked for the federal government or state or local government for that matter.

And the reason I don't trust the government is because I know what happens to populations who have been disarmed.

ISABELA LISCO: Other Virginia militias patrol the streets because- DAVID STANLEY: What if the police department can't show up?

What if they won't show up?

What if it's just us?

You know, how do we kind of keep some order and not just through violence, through just being prepared?

ISABELA LISCO:But paramilitaries expert and Virginia Native, Carolyn Gallaher says she doesn't want militias in her county.

CAROLYN GALLAHER: Militias will tell you all the time, we are here to help the community.

We represent the community, but how do I know that?

Like, did I vote for them?

Did my mom vote for them?

Did they have to go out campaigning?

No, they're an independent armed group, a paramilitary, and it's peace time.

So they really shouldn't exist.

(gun shots) ISABELA LISCO: Despite being an independent group, the Virginia Kekoas say they are willing to team up with law enforcement.

SASQUATCH: If there was something going on where like it was beyond their capabilities and they needed like extra hands on deck, okay, that's fine.

ISABELA LISCO: While for Voska, cooperating with law enforcement is vital.

PAUL VOSKA I've already talked to the local law enforcement, they know me and this is what I tell 'em, “Listen, you get into a problem, you need some support?

Give me a call.” ISABELA LISCO: But Gallaher says, this cooperation is dangerous.

CAROLYN GALLAHER: The very fact that they're armed and they're kind of organized can put the weight on the scales in politics, in business without ever having any connection to what the people want.

ISABELA LISCO: Gallaher, who grew up an hour south of Charlottesville says militias resemble gorilla and paramilitary groups in other countries.

CAROLYN GALLAHER: These are non- state armed groups.

We don't give non-state armed groups like Blue Ribbons.

ISABELA LISCO: Yeah.

CAROLYN GALLAHER: There's like efforts to curtail these groups because it's not safe.

ISABELA LISCO: Yet, elected sheriffs confirmed they are willing to work with their local militias.

(audience applauds) DAR LEAF: If we called on a militia, it would be where we need something now and we have to take care of it now and then we'll clean up later type thing.

But for the most part, most of the militia people I got in my county, they've been zero problem to me.

ISABELA LISCO: We met Leaf at a convention in Las Vegas for the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association.

The organization encourages sheriffs to defy federal laws they view as unconstitutional.

RICHARD MACK: But what I would like to see the sheriffs unite and put the federal and state governments on notice that they will not tolerate or allow any more gun control aimed at law abiding citizens.

>>Liberty and justice for all.

>>Amen.

ISABELA LISCO: Some sheriffs say they also rely on their own groups called posses.

DAR LEAF: And it's basically the same people as it would be on a militia.

ISABELA LISCO: Oregon sheriff Bob Songer says he has a posse of 150 members for his county of 20,000 people.

BOB SONGER: They do courtroom security for us because we don't have the manpower to put up in the courtroom.

And now courtroom security, most of them, not all of 'em, are armed, but there's several that are not armed.

ISABELA LISCO: But for Gallaher, armed posses do more harm than good.

CAROLYN GALLAHER: 150 people for 20,000, like where is this like what apocalyptic hell scape are we really in?

ISABELA LISCO: Voska defends militias saying they protect communities against protestors like Black Lives Matter.

PAUL VOSKA: And when they show up, you have local police, state police, sheriff's department, and 300 armed militiamen standing on the streets.

What's going to happen?

ISABELA LISCO: Experts worry militias intimidate citizens and lawmakers, but militia members say they're just exercising their Second Amendment rights.

PREACHER: Well, if they're intimidated, because I haven't said anything to make them feel threatened.

You know, if they feel intimidated then maybe they should reconsider their positions.

ISABELA LISCO: Regardless of the Kekoa's intentions, Georgetown Law Institute Policy Council Jacob Glick says Laws restrict paramilitary activity in all 50 states.

JACOB GLICK: I think it's the job of groups around the country and also groups locally to make sure that we are speaking loudly and clearly about what these laws actually mean and what paramilitary activity actually is, which is, unlicensed, unlawful, and dangerous vigilante activity and not constitutionally protected auxiliary services.

ISABELA LISCO: Glick also says that using the law to crack down on private militias doesn't infringe on individual gun rights.

JACOB GLICK: We should not accept the false choice between protecting our communities from unlawful vigilante activity and keeping enshrined really important rights like the right to free association, the the right to bear arms.

These ideas coexist.

ISABELA LISCO: While Georgetown experts propose legal solutions, Gallaher says, if militia members really want to help the community, they can do it without being armed.

CAROLYN GALLAHER: They're not rich places.

There are a lot of volunteer opportunities that would be very useful where you could do something that's helping your neighbors and you don't need to carry a gun to do it.

ISABELA LISCO: Because some worry that violence could follow the November elections.

PAUL VOSKA: If Biden wins, it's automatically be going to be assumed he cheated.

And there are a lot of people who are on the fringe edge of this, it's going to get violent and I hate to have that, and that's coming.

(people chattering)