NCJ Number
167815
Date Published
1996
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Citizen militias have developed in reaction to incidents in which Federal law enforcement agents may have abused their authority; in order to reduce the potential for violence by militias, the Federal Government should prevent such abuses by its agents.
Abstract
Militia leaders typically cite the Federal assaults on Randy Weaver and his family along with the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Tex., as signs that the Federal Government is abusing its power in attacking citizens in an attempt to deprive them of the right to bear arms. The Brady Bill, requiring a waiting period for handgun purchases, and the ban on "assault weapons" provide further evidence to militia members that the Federal Government is intent on depriving citizens of firearms needed to protect themselves from government domination. Another aspect of militia ideology is that the Federal Government is preparing America for a New World Order in which U.S. sovereignty will be subordinated to the United Nations (or some successor organization), such that our constitutional rights will be terminated. Although militia leaders disavow any connection with or support for the Oklahoma City bombing, their rhetoric does appeal to many who believe that violence is the necessary response to perceived government abuses. The best way to defuse the movement is to pursue a serious congressional investigation of Waco, Weaver, and other incidents, followed by appropriate action to curb Federal agencies that overstep constitutional and statutory boundaries.