Estimated reading time: 8 minutes
In case you don’t know, martial law is when the government takes over a designated territory, suspends constitutional rights, and enforces authoritarian power with the use of the military. Basic civilian rights such as a trial before imprisonment and other democratic processes are limited or suspended completely. Every democracy has the potential for martial law.
Martial law usually happens during something like a large riot, a terrorist attack, or a large-scale natural disaster. During frightening events like these, many people prefer to give up their rights so they can have the peace of mind an authoritarian government offers. Who needs rights as long as you can feel safe from looters, right?
The trouble is, there have been instances where martial law has gone too far. In the video below, you’ll see what happened after Hurricane Katrina.
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But today, things are even worse to the point that Federal, state, or local governments declaring martial law appears to be a much more realistic possibility than it was in years prior. In the last year alone, we have seen a stronger economic recession and more social unrest and upheaval than ever before. Even when the pandemic was at its worst, there was talk that state or local governments would declare martial law as well.
What you should know is that almost every time martial law is declared, it requires a preceding event that gives the government the justification it needs to take authoritarian measures with military force and suspend constitutional rights. And while what can happen during martial law varies, it’s never pretty and several of the authoritarian measures can remain in place for several months (if not years).
In this article, we’ll take a look at some things that can happen during martial law. To be clear, not all of these things will happen every time martial law is imposed. In fact, if every one of them happened at once it would be a very rare and extreme event. However, each of these things has been known to happen, so they’re worth preparing for.
1. Confiscation of Firearms
As it shows in the video above, one of the first things to occur under martial law is the confiscation of firearms. Any civilian with a firearm will be deemed a threat, which means it’s important to hide your weapons in a place that only you and trusted family or friends know about.
Have multiple stashes so if one stash is found, you can pretend that’s all there is. If you have a bunker, keep some weapons and firearms there as well. Make sure you have plenty of ammo, too.
Expect to be searched without cause. Anything that is found on you is in danger of being taken. Keep this in mind when going out so that you don’t lose something valuable to government forces or other opportunistic enemies. Also, if you have children in your home, please keep your gun in a combination safe like this one.
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Related Article: 5 Ways To Hide Your Guns During Martial Law
2. Curfew
Curfew under martial law will be strictly enforced, and it is inadvisable to break it. In the event that you must go out past curfew, be prepared. Know back routes and less traveled paths to your destination. Stealth is of the utmost importance, so be sure you have the appropriate gear to move about quickly and undetected.
If you must travel in groups, keep them small. The larger the group, the higher the risk of being detected. Be strategic about when you choose to venture out of your homes during curfew as well, and always carefully plan out your routes beforehand.
3. Restriction of Free Speech
Your constitutional rights are void under martial law, so it’s best to keep your opinions to yourself. There will be people who will object to martial law, and those that loudly protest will suffer. A protester during martial law is likely to be imprisoned and possibly shot.
If you have the desire to rally together a militia, do so with extreme care and discretion. Militias typically operate underground as they are the weaker and smaller force.
Related Article: Martial Law Is Inevitable – Here’s What To Prepare For
4. Forcible Removal from Property
Just because you own the land or house you live in doesn’t mean you’ll be allowed to stay there once martial law is in place. Depending on the situation, it is possible that many people, including you, will be relocated. They may also decide to set up camp in your home, so be prepared for this.
Have a bug out bag ready at all times in the event of martial law so when the time comes you can relocate quickly and safely.
You may choose to stay on your property and in your house, but it would be a high-risk move for the average homeowner. The precautions taken to prevent the take-over of your home are only going to be effective against looters and not against well-equipped and trained government forces.
5. Confiscation of Food Supplies
Along with your firearms, military forces may choose to take your food supplies as well as other basic living essentials. If you have any medicine you need, hide it somewhere. Keep most of your medicine in your bunker, a little on your person, and the rest in a hidden location in case you are unable to bunker down in time.
While most people stock up on food supplies at home, it would be wise to have a good stock of food and water in a well-prepared bunker. Homes are easy targets and might be raided for supplies by military forces, leaving you high and dry as well as dependent on the government for your next meal.
Related Article: Martial Law – Where To Hide Your Supplies
6. Detained or Imprisoned at Will
For whatever reason, you may be imprisoned by military forces without provocation. They may find you suspicious or threatening, mistake you for someone else, or just hate your face. The best thing to do under military law is to stay out of sight. Never draw attention to yourself.
In the event that you are in the presence of or confronted by government forces, always act as a good citizen should, being readily obedient until you can slip away.
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7. Forcible Identification of Individuals
This includes individuals being forced to carry identification cards, mandatory fingerprinting, and being tracked on mobile apps just to do basic necessities such as working, buying food, buying gas, traveling, and so on.
In stricter circumstances, it may be required for any individual walking outside of their home to have their identification with them, and chances are good that you will be stopped and forced to display your identification at various checkpoints around the city.
8. Taking Command of Businesses
Last but not least, businesses will never be allowed to be up and running the same way during martial law. In an effort to take control of the population, the government would take control of businesses and strictly regulate what can and cannot be sold.
As noted previously, food supplies could be confiscated, and not only from people’s homes but from stores and restaurants as well. Restaurants would likely be forced to shut down, while stores would be forced to ration what they can sell, creating food lines. Any businesses allowed to remain in operation would only be able to do so under strict supervision from the government.
Also as noted previously, it’s also likely that individuals would be forced to identify themselves to the authorities in order to do legal business with one another. For example, people seeking to purchase food would be forced to show their identification either on a mobile app or a physical card.
Summary
Martial law has happened countless times before, and it is bound to happen again. You can learn more about martial law in this article. Remember, if martial law is in place, you are in danger and it is in your best interest to hide until normal government functions resume. It is important that you at least have a plan of action for when martial law takes place.
Your survival is all that will matter in that time, and it will not be an easy effort. There are many opportunists and bad people out there that will thrive under martial law. You will need to be able to defend yourself from such people.
Defending yourself from an attack is the worst-case scenario and best avoided by staying out of sight. Don’t go out in public, and especially avoid high trafficked areas. Learn basic survival skills like hunting and off-grid cooking. You must be ready for anything.
If you have a bunker to hide out in, be sure not to take any cell phones or GPS devices that could give away your location (even if you think you can’t get a signal underground). Only leave your bunker or hiding spot when absolutely necessary. Your welfare during martial law will depend on your preparedness.
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Since the end of the U.S. Civil war; when has there been an incident where all of those activities happened?
1) When a President was murdered– no.
2) when the Great depression started — no
3) after the 9-11 attacks happened — no
4) After the 1/6 Capital riot — no.
Many of us are related to world war two veterans. Did you know that they were members of a huge ANTIFA group? IT was NAMED THE U.S. ARMED FORCES
Sounds like the Biden Administration …
Having lived in many countries around the world I now live in the only free country left unfortunately you insist in giving away your most precious treasure your freedom I have never been put in a position to give oath to America but I give it freely I will not live as a subject again I prefer to die free old as I might be 25 years in the infantry means I will not leave this world alone I wish no one harm until they attempt to take my freedom.
Then I will show them the one lesson that 3 wars taught me blind hate we will journey to Valhalla together.
Wow Nothing like posting sht to bring out all the crazies
wake uo n smell the coffee do u really think it cant happen better think twice about it r
There are No Provisions in the Constitution for the implementation of Martial Law. None at all, and for a very good reason. Our Founders found themselves under Martial Law in a number of the colonies. They knew and experienced what Martial Law is, that is Tyranny By Decree.
I’m older and in declining health due to Degenerative Joint Disease. My final days will be miserable, pain wracked and protracted, so Iook at this a little differently than others. Bugging Out is a last desperate act, because unless I can travel by vehicle, a 70 mile cross country hike to our Safe House, won’t happen.
So our preps have focused on Bugging In. Supplies are stored for Bug Out, but it will have to be by vehicle.
I will not passively surrender my weapons, or any property for that matter, to the Despots in control. I’ve no illusions about surviving the skirmish, but I do vow to God to take as many of the bastards with me as I go.
I will not submit to Tyranny by a government intent on denying me my God given Rights. I swore an Oath to defend the Constitution from all enemies and by God that Oath has never been revoked.
As for the UN, they will be treated as a foreign invader, and all I know is, those pretty blue helmets sure show up bright through my scope at a 1,000 yards.
Isn’t this to take out the criminal elements that perpetrated the fraudulent election which is understood to be extensive by Joe Biden’s own admission.
Faith and courage are also very important. They can literally move mountains, and fearlessness, with faith behind it, can blind-side and derail a would-be aggressor. If you’re not behaving fearfully, cowering before them, that’s not the expected response. It’s the same with animal predators. The absolute worst thing to do is show fear and run away from them, as it will trigger an attack. If you stand your ground fearlessly, even when they lunge and snarl, they become confused and will usually back off. And miracles occur daily, so there’s that.
absolutely and unequivocally 100% correct
Would like more references, i.e. show real instances in modern U.S. history where citizens’ food and premises have been taken. Now (2020) with COVID-19, we are seeing the real value of neighbors cooperating and helping one another. The real threat is not the U.N. or even the government coming for you – it is an overwhelmed government NOT coming at all to assist you. Just a thought…
Hey,try to stay under the radar if possible will be time for a bug out bag just in case if the bulk of out troops will not fire on us this is a good thing,stay safe….”The Hawk”
I find it remarkable that anyone would view the UN as any kind of threat they have an unequaled record of complete failure through their entire history any success is solely down to the individual national units that just so happen to be assigned to the UN at the time of their success each time my unit worked as part of a UN force we knew that if things went sideways we were unable to rely on the other nations forces help and so prepared as an indipendant force international co operation is fine in theory however not practical in most cases e.g.
Probe Charlie was a tri national unit we knew that the yanks would do their part but everyone knew the frogs would bottle out at first pop .
The UN is a club of idiots who have no real intent of working together but its something to do it’s a joke that plays with soldiers ment to cause the third world nations to behave but even that bubble has deflated so don’t give them any more credence than Harry Potter.
all this talk about the u k declaring Martial Law i have noticed that a lot of comments are from people living overseas like the u s a i have not seen one person from the u k leave a comment yet only myself what i would like to know is this if Martial Law is declared in the u k what will happen to our daily lives does this mean that all shops and supermarkets will be closed
This sounds like something from a dystopian novel. regardless, just stay out of sight. Nobody cares about you if they dont know you exist.
I hear they are bringing in troops from other countries to enforce laws here. The theory is they are more likely to turn on Americans than Americans would be.
The world government was prophesied in the Bible and it will come about by force. If people study, they will understand what is about to happen and will be prepared. It is coming. Align yourself with Christ.
In the event that other countries are brought in, by America, to fight against American people, it seems hard to believe that god anticipated or wanted that. Even if he didn’t want it, he allowed it, and that’s just as bad. Seems kinda evil to me
If God allows something to happen it is evil? So if God allows you to believe that there is no God then that must be stupid or evil. Or if God lets you rob a bank or molest your child then God is a bad god. I guess the world should be more like a video game where or better yet a pg video game where if you try to do or go somewhere bad an invisible wall should just be there so that it keeps us from touching the forbidden fruit. So you can try to run and commit murder but you end up running in place instead.
Man such a good idea, I wonder why God didn’t think of that I’m sure one of us would make a better god. Free will whip needs it.
I am aligned with Christ. Christ will be there when I am dead. The trick is to not be dead. Just living by the holy word will not keep evil people from being evil. Guns keep evil at bay, safe choices keep my family alive.
Amen to that
Amen! I found my Savior late in life. But just in time by the looks and shape of things to come.
God Bless….
There will always be the gungho troops that will do whatever they are told to do, but the majority of the troops have already said they will not turn on the American people. That will drop their numbers radically and add greatly to our numbers with more trained people.
that will mostly likely lead to a civil war
They are going to use the U. N.
Calm down Francis, enough with the fear porn.
Read Paul Howe’s article “The 2nd Ammendment and the Kool Aid drinkers”.
Don’t hide your guns like a squirrel hiding acorns. Instead keep your best stuff at hand and be ready to stand up and be counted. Don’t be violent. Communicate effectively, organize, and stand your ground lawfully.
That sounds very good…..in theory.
You mean like they are peacefully standing their ground at Standing Rock? How is that working for them?
Sounds good till they knock down your door! Then what?
Very true
Martial Law doesn’t even need to be declared to see some of those measures being implemented ….
I reference the door-to-door in the Boston area after the Marathon Bombing – innocent homeowners goose walked out of their homes under machine gun mounted armor vehicles …
I don’t agree. What’s to prevent UN troops, Chinese, Islamic Terrorists, Russians, etc. from carrying out martial law. Not at the entire country at one time but in sections. With the present administration and especially if Hillary is elected, NOTHING would surprise me.
Don’t you feel a little dumb now? Saying Hillary will do something if elected..now ya’ll voted for the devil himself and he’s talking about Marshall law. He has no clue what it is.
Nope. I trust Patriot Trump and fear the socialist left.
I continue to not understand how ANYONE coiuld vote for he Dem
plan. History has shown us that the Dems encouraged slavery, encouraged and supported multiple wars, encourage controls over Americans in work, religion, economics, etc. The Dems forced banks to give liar-loans, encourage people to not work and get welfare, assistance and a free phone, etc. But here again, slippery, sleepy Joe has the office and we are walked down the path to total enslavement. Our value as a reserve currency, our value as self-sufficient for energy, etc…… all stolen from us. Sad. True, but sad. Dan
Drones. Good and bad. They may be considered as a “weapon” and subject to seizure. And, you can bet the government drones will be looking for ne’er do wells and constitutionalists with equal vigor.
Martial law WILL require military forces and the nationalization of all law enforcement as well as State National Guard units. There is NOT enough despotic slugs within those organizations, for them to turn on their families, friends and neighbors, without extreme cost to those seeking to violate our God-given Rights.
I agree. The rank and file probably won’t act with enthusiasm, to dismantle the Constitution. That said, I doubt they will provide any assistance if you are armed.
Its gotta be stopped
agreed