Militia

Abstract

This chapter describes Article XVII of the Colorado Constitution, authorizing the state militia. The Article establishes and defines the militia, now called the Colorado National Guard. Section 2 requires that rules for the Guard conform to regulations governing the U.S. Army. Section 3 empowers the governor to appoint officers of the Guard. Section 4 requires the general assembly to maintain armories for safekeeping of weapons, military records, and “relics and banners of the state.” Section 5 exempts from “militia duty in time of peace,” persons having “conscientious scruples against bearing arms.” A statute limits this exemption to religious beliefs and combat services. It also exempts other classes: persons in essential public jobs and those with disabilities.