Today, from The Stockton Record:

Alan Pettet is forming an armed militia to patrol Stockton

By David Siders
Record Staff Writer
April 11, 2009 6:00 AM

STOCKTON - Alan Pettet, who announced Monday he is forming an armed militia to patrol Stockton, said Friday that 270 people have called to sign up and that he has had attention from such media outlets as National Public Radio and "The Rush Limbaugh Show."

Both the city administration and the Police Department said to roam Stockton in cars with loaded rifles - as Pettet, a midtown neighborhood advocate, has proposed - would be illegal and unwise.

Pettet said the militia would only "activate" if the city lays off police officers, causing some residents and officials to speculate he is only posturing to dissuade City Hall from laying off officers. The city is trying to balance a $31 million budget deficit and plans to lay off at least 43 officers by summer.

Pettet, 66, said he is serious.

"This thing's gone national," he said.

Pettet, who at first planned to run one car at a time with four men inside, said he now intends to staff as many cars as he can.

Vice Mayor Kathy Miller said the attention Pettet is receiving is unfortunate.

"It feeds a really negative image," Miller said. "It's really unwarranted, and it hurts us."

She said she believed no militia will materialize.

"I don't think there's any way it's going to happen," she said.