In a message to All  Jeff Rudd wrote:
JR>  Who is "paramilitary"?
JR>  =======================
JR>
JR>  Military - of, pertaining to or involving the armed forces or warfare
JR>
JR>  Militia  - a reserve body of citizens enrolled for military duties
JR>
JR>  Militiaman - a member of the militia [ military service ]
JR>
JR>  Para - beside, beyond | amiss, faulty, irregular | somewhat
JR>  resembling
JR>
JR>  So, paramilitary would be "besides the military", or "somewhat
JR>  resembling
JR>  the military".
JR>
JR>  So the BATF and other police agencies that have become "somewhat
JR>  resembling the military" with equipment and tactics, although
JR>  certainly NOT military, are more correctly defined "paramilitary".
JR>  While the militia, are defined not only by dictionaries, but by the
JR>  LAW as MILITARY.
JR>
JR>  --- Simplex BBS (v1.07.00Beta [DOS])
Another nice piece of relevant research.  
 
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