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Here it comes... We're all suspects now.
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Dave Pendleton
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Post subject: Here it comes... We're all suspects now. Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:57 pm |
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Senior Member |
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Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 4:05 pm Posts: 312 Location: SE Metro
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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/23/fusion-centers-expand-criteria-identify-militia-members/
Quote: If you're an anti-abortion activist, or if you display political paraphernalia supporting a third-party candidate or a certain Republican member of Congress, if you possess subversive literature, you very well might be a member of a domestic paramilitary group.
That's according to "The Modern Militia Movement," a report by the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC), a government collective that identifies the warning signs of potential domestic terrorists for law enforcement communities.
"Due to the current economical and political situation, a lush environment for militia activity has been created," the Feb. 20 report reads. "Unemployment rates are high, as well as costs of living expenses. Additionally, President Elect Barrack [sic] Obama is seen as tight on gun control and many extremists fear that he will enact firearms confiscations."
MIAC is one of 58 so-called "fusion centers" nationwide that were created by the Department of Homeland Security, in part, to collect local intelligence that authorities can use to combat terrorism and related criminal activities. More than $254 million from fiscal years 2004-2007 went to state and local governments to support the fusion centers, according to the DHS Web site.
During a press conference last week in Kansas City, Mo., DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano called fusion centers the "centerpiece of state, local, federal intelligence-sharing" in the future.
"Let us not forget the reason we are here, the reason we have the Department of Homeland Security and the reason we now have fusion centers, which is a relatively new concept, is because we did not have the capacity as a country to connect the dots on isolated bits of intelligence prior to 9/11," Napolitano said, according to a DHS transcript.
"That's why we started this.... Now we know that it's not just the 9/11-type incidents but many, many other types of incidents that we can benefit from having fusion centers that share information and product and analysis upwards and horizontally."
But some say the fusion centers are going too far in whom they identify as potential threats to American security.
People who supported former third-party presidential candidates like Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin and former Georgia Rep. Bob Barr are cited in the report, in addition to anti-abortion activists and conspiracy theorists who believe the United States, Mexico and Canada will someday form a North American Union.
"Militia members most commonly associate with 3rd party political groups," the report reads. "It is not uncommon for militia members to display Constitutional Party, Campaign for Liberty or Libertarian material."
Other potential signals of militia involvement, according to the report, are possession of the Gagsden "Don't Tread on Me" flag or the widely available anti-income tax film "America: Freedom to Fascism."
Barr, the 2008 Libertarian Party presidential nominee, told FOXNews.com that he's taking steps to get his name removed from the report, which he said could actually "dilute the effectiveness" of law enforcement agencies.
"It can subject people to unwarranted and inappropriate monitoring by the government," he said. "If I were the governor of Missouri, I'd be concerned that law enforcement agencies are wasting their time and effort on such nonsense."
Barr said his office has received "several dozen" complaints related to the report.
Mary Starrett, communications director for the Constitution Party, said Baldwin, the party's 2008 presidential candidate, was "outraged" that his name was included in the report.
"We were so astounded by it we couldn't believe it was real," Starrett told FOXNews.com. "It's painting such a large number of people with a broad brush in a dangerous light."
Michael German, national security policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, said the report "crosses the line" and shows a disregard for civil liberties.
"It seems to implicate people who are engaging in First Amendment protected activities and suggest that something as innocuous as supporting a political candidate for office would mean that you're harboring some ill-intent," German told FOXNews.com. "It's completely inappropriate."
German who claims the number of fusion centers nationwide is closer to 70 said the centers present several troubling concerns, including their excessive secrecy, ambiguous lines of authority, the use of data mining and military participation.
"No two are alike," German said. "And these things are expanding rapidly."
But MIAC officials defended their report, saying it's not a basis for officers to take enforcement action.
"These reports sometimes mention groups or individuals who are not the subject of the document, but may be relevant to describing tendencies or trends concerning the subject of the document," MIAC said in a statement.
"For example, a criminal group may use a particular wire service to transfer funds, but the mention of that wire service does not imply that it is part of that group, or a criminal enterprise. Nor does it imply that all individuals who use that service are engaged in criminal activity."
The statement continues, "We are concerned about the mischaracterizations of a document following its recent unauthorized release and we regret that any citizens were unintentionally offended by the content of the document."
Donny Ferguson, a spokesman for the Libertarian Party, said he was concerned by the report's "poor choice of words," among other things.
"Unfortunately it is so broadly worded it could be interpreted as saying millions of peaceful, law-abiding Americans are involved in dangerous activities. These mistakes happen and we hope Missouri officials will correct the report," Ferguson wrote in an e-mail. "The Libertarian Party promotes the common-sense policies of fiscal responsibility and social tolerance. We are the only party in America who makes opposition to initiating violence a condition of membership."
Bob McCarty, a St. Louis resident who blogged about the MIAC report, said he's afraid he may be targeted, since he's previously sold Ron Paul-related merchandise.
"[The report] described me, so maybe I need to get a gun and build a shack out in the woods," McCarty said facetiously. "It's certainly an attempt to stifle political thought, especially in Missouri. It definitely makes me pause, if nothing else. Maybe Missouri is just a test bed for squelching political thought."
ACLU officials blasted a Texas fusion center last month for distributing a "Prevention Awareness Bulletin" that called on law enforcement officers to report activities of local lobbying groups, Muslim civil rights organizations and anti-war protest groups.
All emphasis mine.
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princewally
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:00 pm |
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Longtime Regular |
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Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:02 am Posts: 1684 Location: St Louis Park
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Geez, can we just hand these study groups a copy of the US Code?
Quote: 311. Militia: composition and classes (a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section 313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the National Guard. (b) The classes of the militia are— (1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard and the Naval Militia; and (2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the Naval Militia.
_________________ Of the people, By the People, For the People. The government exists to serve us, not the reverse.
-------------------- Next MN carry permit class: TBD.
Permit to Carry MN --------------------
jason <at> metrodefense <dot> com
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Dave Pendleton
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:09 pm |
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Senior Member |
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Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 4:05 pm Posts: 312 Location: SE Metro
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I think you're missing the point USC 311 defines the "good" (and necessary) militia.
To these folks, there is no militia but dangerous, extremist, gun owning, uncontrolled militia.
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Greg
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:23 pm |
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Forum Moderator |
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Joined: Wed Aug 24, 2005 9:13 pm Posts: 874 Location: Minneapolis
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sigman
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 1:26 pm |
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Joined: Sun Aug 07, 2005 10:20 am Posts: 1317 Location: Racine, MN
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Ididn't realize we were so noteworthy.
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gunflint
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:09 pm |
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Longtime Regular |
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Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2005 4:00 am Posts: 1094 Location: Duluth
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Bring it Obama. If you think that I'm radical now, pass Cap and Trade you socialist SOB.
_________________ "I wish it to be remembered that I was the last man of my tribe to surrender my rifle" Sitting Bull
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White Horseradish
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:35 pm |
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Longtime Regular |
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Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2005 9:52 pm Posts: 700 Location: Northeast Minneapolis
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gunflint wrote: Bring it Obama. Wasn't Obama that made the DHS. He certainly wasn't the president during fiscal years 2004-2007.
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princewally
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:36 pm |
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Longtime Regular |
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Joined: Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:02 am Posts: 1684 Location: St Louis Park
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White Horseradish wrote: gunflint wrote: Bring it Obama. Wasn't Obama that made the DHS. He certainly wasn't the president during fiscal years 2004-2007.
But he is being controlled by the same reptilian humanoids who were running the show then, too.
_________________ Of the people, By the People, For the People. The government exists to serve us, not the reverse.
-------------------- Next MN carry permit class: TBD.
Permit to Carry MN --------------------
jason <at> metrodefense <dot> com
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Dave Pendleton
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 2:47 pm |
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Senior Member |
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Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 4:05 pm Posts: 312 Location: SE Metro
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White Horseradish wrote: gunflint wrote: Bring it Obama. Wasn't Obama that made the DHS. He certainly wasn't the president during fiscal years 2004-2007.
Oh, well then never mind.
As you were, everybody!
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Pat Cannon
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 4:40 pm |
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Longtime Regular |
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Joined: Mon Aug 08, 2005 10:53 pm Posts: 1421 Location: South Minneapolis (East of Lake Nokomis)
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princewally wrote: White Horseradish wrote: gunflint wrote: Bring it Obama. Wasn't Obama that made the DHS. He certainly wasn't the president during fiscal years 2004-2007. But he is being controlled by the same reptilian humanoids who were running the show then, too.
That explains a lot!
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gunflint
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 5:20 pm |
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Longtime Regular |
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Joined: Sat Aug 13, 2005 4:00 am Posts: 1094 Location: Duluth
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I've come to realize that I have an unhealthy hatred for our president. I need to work on it.
_________________ "I wish it to be remembered that I was the last man of my tribe to surrender my rifle" Sitting Bull
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White Horseradish
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:10 pm |
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Longtime Regular |
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Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2005 9:52 pm Posts: 700 Location: Northeast Minneapolis
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princewally wrote: White Horseradish wrote: gunflint wrote: Bring it Obama. Wasn't Obama that made the DHS. He certainly wasn't the president during fiscal years 2004-2007. But he is being controlled by the same reptilian humanoids who were running the show then, too. Reptilian humanoids? I thought it was these guys:
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Dave Pendleton
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:04 pm |
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Senior Member |
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Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 4:05 pm Posts: 312 Location: SE Metro
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Before this thread descends into zombie nonsense, please keep in mind: this isn't an Obama or Bush thing, per se.
This is Obama's watch and anything that happens NOW is technically his responsibility. Everything that happened before November 2008, is just a footnote.
IT DOESN'T MATTER.
Obama interviewed for the job and got it. It's his mess now, such as it is, it doesn't matter where it came from anymore.
Do you want a Presidential administration that snickers on 60 minutes, and passes it's problems off as someone else's?
I think the scary thing here is that the the Justice and Homeland Security departments, are chugging right along: There's a Terrorist behind every tree, and we'll be much safer if we just let DHS do it's job.
This new administration and the Usurper-in-chief aren't really going out of their way to sway the course. I'm concerned, and I'm scared. I've seen things these past 12 months that I never thought I'd see and everyone just carries on.
Nothing to see here, move along...
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mrokern
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:11 pm |
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Longtime Regular |
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Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 9:40 pm Posts: 2264 Location: Eden Prairie
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Dave Pendleton wrote: Do you want a Presidential administration that snickers on 60 minutes, and passes it's problems off as someone else's?
Nope. Then again, I didn't want an administration that used the Constitution as toilet paper and couldn't pronounce "nuclear" either.
That said...meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
Won't get fooled again....oops.
-Mark
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Dave Pendleton
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Post subject: Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2009 7:20 pm |
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Senior Member |
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Joined: Wed May 07, 2008 4:05 pm Posts: 312 Location: SE Metro
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mrokern wrote: Dave Pendleton wrote: Do you want a Presidential administration that snickers on 60 minutes, and passes it's problems off as someone else's?
Nope. Then again, I didn't want an administration that used the Constitution as toilet paper and couldn't pronounce "nuclear" either. -Mark
Trust me, I've no kind words for the GWB admin, either.
I love it when gunnies get all gleeful about being able to carry in National Parks, but ignore the larger rape of the Bill of Rights.
But hey, they ruled in favor of Heller! We're all set, right?
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