Highway Patrol chief retracts militia report

[45nut]

Article here

Highway Patrol chief retracts militia report; will change review process for MIAC reports

JEFFERSON CITY | The Missouri State Highway Patrol on Wednesday retracted a controversial report on militia activity and will change how such reports are reviewed before being distributed to law enforcement agencies.

The announcement followed a press conference in which Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder suggested putting the director of public safety on administrative leave and investigating how the report was produced.

The controversy revolves around a report prepared last month by the Missouri Information Analysis Center, a so-called “fusion center” for local, state and federal law enforcement agencies to collaborate on domestic security issues.

The report concerns militia movements in Missouri and across the United States and describes how they have evolved over the last several years.

It suggests that domestic militias often subscribe to radical ideologies rooted in Christian views and opposition to immigration, abortion or federal taxes. The report also says it is “not uncommon” for militia members to support third-party political candidates and names former presidential candidates Ron Paul, Bob Barr and Chuck Baldwin specifically.

The eight-page report is labeled “unclassified” but “law enforcement sensitive” and includes numerous editing and design errors, including a misspelling of President Barack Obama’s name.

On Wednesday afternoon, Highway Patrol Superintendent Col. James F. Keathley released a memo saying the report did not meet the patrol’s standard for quality and would not have been released if it had been seen by top officials.

“For that reason,” Keathley wrote, “I have ordered the MIAC to permanently cease distribution of the militia report.”

The memo says the report was compiled by an employee of the information analysis center and reviewed only by the center director before being sent to law-enforcement agencies across the state.

In the future, Keathley wrote, reports from the center will be reviewed by leaders of the Highway Patrol and the Department of Public Safety. The patrol will also open an investigation into the origin of the militia report.

Conservatives in Missouri and nationally have criticized the report for lumping people with conservative political persuasions in with domestic terrorists and potentially opening them to harassment from law enforcement.

The controversy has been aired on blogs, cable news programs and conservative radio.

In an earlier response, the center had released a statement reaffirming its “regard for the Constitutions of the United States and Missouri” and expressing regret that “any citizens or groups were unintentionally offended by the content of the document.”

And earlier this week, Department of Public Safety Director John M. Britt retracted the portions of the report that noted third party and Republican presidential candidates by name. Gov. Jay Nixon, a Democrat elected last year, has publicly defended the report as well.

Republicans said the earlier statements did not go far enough, and on Wednesday morning Kinder criticized the report for suggesting that only issues championed by conservatives motivate domestic terrorists.

The report “slanders” opponents of abortion and critics of illegal immigration, he said.

“Under the guidance of the present director, who apparently must think it is Nixon’s secret service, the Department of Public Safety has taken on the new and sinister role of political profiling,” Kinder said.

Also troubling Kinder said, the report makes no mention of Islamic terrorists or those who might subscribe to ideologies associated with liberals, such as environmental radicals.

“Let’s be very clear: There are extremists and ultra extremists in every group mentioned above,” Kinder said, referring to anti-abortion and border security activists. “But not just in these groups.”

Kinder said Britt should be suspended and that the state legislature should investigate how the report was prepared.

To reach Jason Noble, call 573-634-3565 or send e-mail to jnoble@kcstar.com.

[AL MOUNT]

This is real right .....?

[45nut]

As far as I know. Go to the link. It looks real to me.

[Lori Mick]

It suggests that domestic militias often subscribe to radical ideologies rooted in Christian views and opposition to immigration, abortion or federal taxes.

(scratching head..... So if I'm a Christian and support American Immigration laws, oppose abortion (actually I believe in free will and not government controlled) and support lower taxes..... I'm a militant???

But I thought I was an American??!!

[islenos]

Due to the national outcry, it's a Public Relations move to clear the Governor of any wrong doing.

[bcj1755]

Originally Posted by islenos

Due to the national outcry, it's a Public Relations move to clear the Governor of any wrong doing.

Bingo! It's called CYOA (Cover Your Own A**), a time honored political technique used to avoid being voted out of office.

But but, I thought that the liberals ALWAYS told the truth about EVERYTHING and only conversatives lied?!?!

[3ME]

Who’d a thunk it? Apparently, according to the report issued by the Missouri Highway Patrol, I display many of the tendencies and identifiers used by “Militia” members. One damn Ron Paul sticker, and you are branded for life. It does explain why those guys in the black Ford that is always parked down the street watching my house.

Are militias or militia members really a problem these days? I see the guys from the Missouri 51st around in the gun shows, but I have never know there to be any problem with any of them. There are a few of them that are nuttier than squirrel turds, but they are not hurting anyone. Funny how every time someone gets into office that wants to take away your rights and personal freedoms, suddenly militias are a problem. Go figure.

[islenos]

Militias have never been a serious threat to the security of the United States.

Anti-gun fear mongering elements of the government and mass media have fueled the assumption that a rifle plus camouflage equals a national threat. By playing upon these fears the congress was able to pass the assault rifle ban in ‘94.

Once again the 90’s Threat Playbook has been opened by the current administration. Since they haven’t gained enough support to rid the country of ‘evil black rifles’, they have turned their attention to a fabricated enemy, the militia; by demonizing militias, congress will be forced to mitigate those individual by the way of yet another ‘assault rifle’ ban.

Events of the past month may change the perceived enemy; Mexican Drug Cartels are the latest vehicle in gun banning. Attorney General Holder said: "…there are just a few gun-related changes that we would like to make, and among them would be to reinstitute the ban on the sale of assault weapons."

Whether it’s the Militia or Mexican drug dealer, the government will find the right bogyman to scare the populace into another ban.

[mrkirker]

It suggests that domestic militias often subscribe to radical ideologies rooted in Christian views and opposition to immigration, abortion or federal taxes. The report also says it is “not uncommon” for militia members to support third-party political candidates and names former presidential candidates Ron Paul, Bob Barr and Chuck Baldwin specifically.

Kinda sounds 'right' to me, but I'm just a janitor. Is the statement incorrect? Or is the 'lumping' factor what's gotten everyone stired up?

[islenos]

Originally Posted by mrkirker

Kinda sounds 'right' to me, but I'm just a janitor. Is the statement incorrect? Or is the 'lumping' factor what's gotten everyone stired up?

As my momma always says " every lady is a woman but not every woman is a lady"

[Big ugly]

Guns and Cammo and a Ron Paul sticker and now I am a militia member. Damn all I was doin was loading up the 'burban to go c'yote huntn up in the mountains. I dont even know of any malitia here in Tennesse, unless they are talkin about all them folks up in Briceville(thats a local funny, you outta state'ers wont understand).

[alhefner]

I am not a member of any group that could be called a militia but according to the document in question...I must be.

you see, I DO encourage protecting the Bill of Rights and especially the Second Amendment. I DO encourage support for third party candidates. I DO feel that our system of taxation is wrong and voice my opinion. I DO oppose much of what our federal government does and I let others know about it.

I DO NOT own a firearm at this time but loudly declare that the Second Amendment guarantees the right to do so for all citizens of the United States and all attempts to infringe on that God given right is an act of treason.

Will I ever join a militia...who knows? Maybe but then again my talents may be better used as an independent "observer" who is able to pass on information.

When the fecal matter really does hit the fan, you'll find me wandering the wilderness with eyes open and camera at the ready. That is the only thing I can guarantee that I'll be doing.

[mrkirker]

So - it is the 'lumping' factor, then. Perhaps if the article used the phrase, "individuals with these (aforementioned) traits often join militia groups"?

Bottom line? "Just 'cause someone points a finger, don't make the pointin' true!"