Legal Background

Under North Carolina Law nearly all adult citizens of the state are members-in-waiting of the unorganized militia to be called up by the Governor in case of need. The state organized militia is the National Guard. LFCDC is not a militia unless we are called up by the Governor as part of the unorganized militia. See North Carolina laws G.S. 127A-16 and G.S. 127A-17; G.S. 127A-87; G.S. 127A-151

Light Foot is divided into eight (8) regions. New members will be assigned to a region depending on their location depending on your county of residence.

We assemble to learn the following:
1. First aid2. Disaster preparedness and relief
3. Survival techniques
4. Preparation for hostile attack, sabotage, or natural disaster
5. To learn about our rights as citizens and to be familiar with the US and North Carolina Constitutions and laws.
6. Emergency communications
7. Firearms safety and proper use of firearms and firearms laws
8. Self-defense and defense of others

Many of our members are former military, and/or EMTs, health care providers or firefighters and other first responders who have received extensive training and who train us.

How We Perform Our Mission

As an organization we do not engage in political acts or public political demonstrations. G.S. 14-277.2. As an organization we are non-partisan and membership is open to all citizens of North Carolina. Persons that are known to have felony convictions may not be permitted to join. As a private organization we reserve the right to be selective in membership based on the needs of our organization.

We believe in the constitutional rights of all citizens to engage in civil defense and lawfully protect their families and their communities. [FN1]

We believe that we must be prepared to render emergency relief and first aid.

We believe in the First Amendment that protects freedom of speech and the right to peaceably assemble, but we do not condone non-expressive conduct or speech that is plainly likely to incite violence, or assembling for criminal purposes.

We believe in the right to keep and bear arms in defense of our Constitution and in self-defense and defense of others. We engage in firearms training but we train in firearm safety and self-defense and lawful use of firearms in accordance with North Carolina’s Castle Doctrine under GS 14-51.3 and the state and federal Constitutions. [FN2]

We encourage all members to get training in firearms use and safety.

Footnotes

1. See the definition of civil defense at:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/civil%20defense

2. N.C.G.S.A. § 14-51.3

§ 14-51.3. Use of force in defense of person; relief from criminal or civil liability
(a) A person is justified in using force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that the conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other's imminent use of unlawful force. However, a person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat in any place he or she has the lawful right to be if either of the following applies:

(1) He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another.
(2) Under the circumstances permitted pursuant to G.S. 14-51.2.
(b) A person who uses force as permitted by this section is justified in using such force and is immune from civil or criminal liability for the use of such force, unless the person against whom force was used is a law enforcement officer or bail bondsman who was lawfully acting in the performance of his or her official duties and the officer or bail bondsman identified himself or herself in accordance with any applicable law or the person using force knew or reasonably should have known that the person was a law enforcement officer or bail bondsman in the lawful performance of his or her official duties.