The closest equivalent to what you're proposing would be State Defense Forces, not the National Guard. Less than half of U.S. states have these, their numbers are small, and the few times they are used it's usually in conjunction with the Guard. Really, though, the militia as it's traditionally known has all but disappeared from the U.S. For better or worse, the military has been completely professionalized.
Back to your suggestion, I don't see the idea doing much good. The riots will likely have subsided by the time such an organization could be created, and if the police aren't being mobilized then they won't be either. Honestly, would making it official really be necessary? There's no reason people can't form something like Neighborhood watches or make citizens arrests when they see looting (don't know if the latter is allowed in your country, but if it isn't, then it should be).
My main problem with disasters like these is that the authorities actively try to quash any attempt by citizens to help out on their own. This is a problem in the U.S. as well (I'm not sure if the people in charge of FEMA have a steel rod shoved up their asses, or they have to put it there themselves).
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Date: 11/8/11 23:47 (UTC)Back to your suggestion, I don't see the idea doing much good. The riots will likely have subsided by the time such an organization could be created, and if the police aren't being mobilized then they won't be either. Honestly, would making it official really be necessary? There's no reason people can't form something like Neighborhood watches or make citizens arrests when they see looting (don't know if the latter is allowed in your country, but if it isn't, then it should be).
My main problem with disasters like these is that the authorities actively try to quash any attempt by citizens to help out on their own. This is a problem in the U.S. as well (I'm not sure if the people in charge of FEMA have a steel rod shoved up their asses, or they have to put it there themselves).