Missouri report on militias, terrorists draws criticism

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

COLUMBIA, Mo. | A new document meant to help Missouri law enforcement agencies identify militia members or domestic terrorists has drawn criticism for some of the warning signs mentioned.

The Feb. 20 report called "The Modern Militia Movement" mentions such red flags as political bumper stickers for third-party candidates, such as U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, who ran for president last year; talk of conspiracy theories, such as the plan for a superhighway linking Canada to Mexico; and possession of subversive literature.

"It seems like they want to stifle political thought," said Roger Webb, president of the University of Missouri campus Libertarians. "There are a lot of third parties out there, and none of them express any violence. In fact, if you join the Libertarian Party, one of the things you sign in your membership application is that you don't support violence as a means to any ends."

But state law enforcement officials said the report is being misinterpreted.

Lt. John Hotz of the Missouri State Highway Patrol said the report comes from publicly available, trend data on militias. It was compiled by the Missouri Information Analysis Center, a "fusion center" in Jefferson City that combines resources from the federal Department of Homeland Security and other agencies. The center, which opened in 2005, was set up to collect local intelligence to better combat terrorism and other criminal activity, he said.

"All this is an educational thing," Hotz said of the report. "Troopers have been shot by members of groups, so it's our job to let law enforcement officers know what the trends are in the modern militia movement."

But Tim Neal, a military veteran and delegate to last year's state GOP convention, was shocked by the report's contents.

"I was going down the list and thinking, 'Check, that's me,'" he said. "I'm a Ron Paul supporter, check. I talk about the North American union, check. I've got the 'America: Freedom to Fascism' video loaned out to somebody right now. So that means I'm a domestic terrorist? Because I've got a video about the Federal Reserve?"

Neal, who has a Ron Paul bumper sticker on his car, said the next time he is pulled over by a police officer, he won't know whether it's because he was speeding or because of his political views.

"If a police officer is pulling me over with my family in the car and he sees a bumper sticker on my vehicle that has been specifically identified as one that an extremist would have in their vehicle, the guy is probably going to be pretty apprehensive and not thinking in a rational manner," Neal said. "And this guy's walking up to my vehicle with a gun."

But Hotz said using factors in the report to determine whether someone could be a terrorist is not profiling. He said people who display signs or bumper stickers from third-party groups are not in danger of harassment from police.

"It's giving the makeup of militia members and their political beliefs," Hotz said of the report. "It's not saying that everybody who supports these candidates is involved in a militia. It's not even saying that all militias are bad."

link

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Driving while black or flying while looking Middle Eastern.

[almaty 19]

missourians hate ron paul..he is too liberal for them.////

[justashooter 430]

Pennsylvania has a similar document, found on a law enforcement training website:

http://www.pa-aware.org/resources/index.asp

I spoke with the director of training at the private company that runs this website a few years ago. He is an ex-mil and a gunny that is focused on training policemen on how to interpret "red flags". I suggested that maybe he was training a little too hard. He replied that his students are focused on the violent activities of groups targeted, and are trained to ignore non-violent groups.

Still, I and many people within my acquaintance are high on his list, despite the fact that we've never done anything unethical or illegal. We simply posess the means, mindset, and the training to be capable of such acts. I'll be sure to call y'all for bail...

Edited March 16, 2009 by justashooter

[alienlovechild 75]

We're going back to the domestic paranoia we had in the 1990s. After the OK city bombing there were tons of stories about miltias and showing the same dozen guys with hunting rifles in Michigan. Never mind thousands of gang members shooting up our threats or the situation on the southern border. Expect to hear a lot more of the "angry white guy" theory again.

[lostinblue 1,989]

Pennsylvania has a similar document, found on a law enforcement training website:

http://www.pa-aware.org/resources/index.asp

I spoke with the director of training at the private company that runs this website a few years ago. He is an ex-mil and a gunny that is focused on training policemen on how to interpret "red flags". I suggested that maybe he was training a little too hard. He replied that his students are focused on the violent activities of groups targeted, and are trained to ignore non-violent groups.

Still, I and many people within my acquaintance are high on his list, despite the fact that we've never done anything unethical or illegal. We simply posess the means, mindset, and the training to be capable of such acts. I'll be sure to call y'all for bail...

Maybe the aclu will come to your defense .

http://www.aclu.org/contact/index.html

[justashooter 430]

Pennsylvania has a similar document, found on a law enforcement training website:

http://www.pa-aware.org/resources/index.asp

I spoke with the director of training at the private company that runs this website a few years ago. He is an ex-mil and a gunny that is focused on training policemen on how to interpret "red flags". I suggested that maybe he was training a little too hard. He replied that his students are focused on the violent activities of groups targeted, and are trained to ignore non-violent groups.

Still, I and many people within my acquaintance are high on his list, despite the fact that we've never done anything unethical or illegal. We simply posess the means, mindset, and the training to be capable of such acts. I'll be sure to call y'all for bail...

Maybe the aclu will come to your defense .

http://www.aclu.org/contact/index.html

not likely. i'm not advocating abortion of black empowerment or lesbianism (well, i'll advocate the lesbianism if they're hot and i can help, or at least videotape).

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

(well, i'll advocate the lesbianism if they're hot and i can help, or at least videotape).

[Kevin and 10]

COLUMBIA, Mo. | A new document meant to help Missouri law enforcement agencies identify militia members or domestic terrorists has drawn criticism for some of the warning signs mentioned.

The Feb. 20 report called "The Modern Militia Movement" mentions such red flags as political bumper stickers for third-party candidates, such as U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, who ran for president last year; talk of conspiracy theories, such as the plan for a superhighway linking Canada to Mexico; and possession of subversive literature.

"It seems like they want to stifle political thought," said Roger Webb, president of the University of Missouri campus Libertarians. "There are a lot of third parties out there, and none of them express any violence. In fact, if you join the Libertarian Party, one of the things you sign in your membership application is that you don't support violence as a means to any ends."

But state law enforcement officials said the report is being misinterpreted.

Lt. John Hotz of the Missouri State Highway Patrol said the report comes from publicly available, trend data on militias. It was compiled by the Missouri Information Analysis Center, a "fusion center" in Jefferson City that combines resources from the federal Department of Homeland Security and other agencies. The center, which opened in 2005, was set up to collect local intelligence to better combat terrorism and other criminal activity, he said.

"All this is an educational thing," Hotz said of the report. "Troopers have been shot by members of groups, so it's our job to let law enforcement officers know what the trends are in the modern militia movement."

But Tim Neal, a military veteran and delegate to last year's state GOP convention, was shocked by the report's contents.

"I was going down the list and thinking, 'Check, that's me,'" he said. "I'm a Ron Paul supporter, check. I talk about the North American union, check. I've got the 'America: Freedom to Fascism' video loaned out to somebody right now. So that means I'm a domestic terrorist? Because I've got a video about the Federal Reserve?"

Neal, who has a Ron Paul bumper sticker on his car, said the next time he is pulled over by a police officer, he won't know whether it's because he was speeding or because of his political views.

"If a police officer is pulling me over with my family in the car and he sees a bumper sticker on my vehicle that has been specifically identified as one that an extremist would have in their vehicle, the guy is probably going to be pretty apprehensive and not thinking in a rational manner," Neal said. "And this guy's walking up to my vehicle with a gun."

But Hotz said using factors in the report to determine whether someone could be a terrorist is not profiling. He said people who display signs or bumper stickers from third-party groups are not in danger of harassment from police.

"It's giving the makeup of militia members and their political beliefs," Hotz said of the report. "It's not saying that everybody who supports these candidates is involved in a militia. It's not even saying that all militias are bad."

link

Its nice know that if you exercise your rights under the Constitution, you are now labeled as a terrorist.

Edited March 16, 2009 by Kevin and Tuyen

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

We're going back to the domestic paranoia we had in the 1990s. After the OK city bombing there were tons of stories about miltias and showing the same dozen guys with hunting rifles in Michigan. Never mind thousands of gang members shooting up our threats or the situation on the southern border. Expect to hear a lot more of the "angry white guy" theory again.

Word.

[lostinblue 1,989]

You never know maybe just talking about it on this board could put you on the list.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

[EasyRider 3]

Its nice know that if you exercise your rights under the Constitution, you are now labeled as a terrorist.

Kind of like when some people exercised their right to question their leaders and their motives they were called terrorists also. It's not pleasant when the tables are turned, is it?

[_Simpson_ 250]

I see nothing wrong with it, if you meet some of the descriptions of what they are looking for I think its reasonable to be a little more scrutinized. Were not living in a perfect world so I say quit whining and take one for the team.

[Ban Hammer 13,334]

Its nice know that if you exercise your rights under the Constitution, you are now labeled as a terrorist.

Kind of like when some people exercised their right to question their leaders and their motives they were called terrorists also. It's not pleasant when the tables are turned, is it?

around here, they're just called right wing conservative nut jobs.