True or false at the radical fringe of conservatism, the belief that the federal government posed a threat to american freedom led to the creation of private militias that armed themselves to fend off oppressive authority.

This is true

Private militias have always been a big thing in the United States since their existence is guaranteed by the second amendment. These are people who believe that the US government might try to do the people harm and they want to oppose the government should the need arise. Changing this would require the second amendment to be changed.