in April 12 2014 agents from the Bureau of Land Management found themselves
surrounded by hundreds of armed and angry militiamen backing at the bottom
rancher in the district and take their land back declare freedom and liberty
here in this land there to enforce a court order to seize his cattle they
were not prepared for what they faced what was supposed to be a peaceful
protest quickly threatened to boil over a decade's long fight between rancher
cliven Bundy and the federal government over grazing rights quickly became a
clarion call for the anti-government movement to mobilize the militia members
and supporters streamed in from around the nation suddenly federal and local
authorities were facing the threat of any government extremist ready to act on
their violent police
snipers took up strategic positions on the hillsides above their rifles aimed
directly at the agents
the officers were outnumbered and outgunned and fearing bloodshed
they wisely treated get that decision in Boldon malicious sovereign citizens and
angry self-styled Patriots at the time the situation was unlike any other in
recent memory
not since the nineteen nineties have delicious has been so willing to the
final
yeah
I'm retired ATF special agent in charge Jim capital
I spent 33 years at the bureau of alcohol tobacco firearms explosives and
I know firsthand just how dangerous it could be one of the ideology fueled by
blind rage turns against the federal government in the nineteen nineties we
saw in Oklahoma City
fourteen theme of a 468 people with a massive truck bomb placed at the federal
building today we're facing a similar threat since 2008
we've seen a dramatic resurgence of what is known as the anti-government movement
there were nine hundred ninety eight of these groups in 2015
that's up from a low of a hundred and forty-nine just seven years earlier but
the sentiment behind that rise was not confined to the extremist fringe a 2015
pew study for example found that only nineteen percent of Americans felt they
could trust the federal government made that backdrop it is no surprise that
some people begin to view taking up arms against that same government has the
answer
the 2014 stand often in Nevada desert was only the beginning of a surge in any
government actions that threaten violence
about six weeks after the standoff a newlywed couple that had gone to the
bunny ranch walked into a pizza parlor Las Vegas determined to spark a
revolution
they killed two police officers at point-blank range on one officers body
they drape the don't tread on me flag one of the calling cards of the any
government movement in South Texas heavily armed and camouflage began
organizing patrols and century posts they believe the government was failing
to protect the border they operated out of a base they called Camp lone star and
claim their mission was to quote push back the illegals the leader of the
group Casey massey began collecting materials that could be used to make
explosives
he and another man were arrested on federal weapons charges
the following summer armed militiamen rush to defend to Oregon gold miners who
were in a dispute with the government they were backed by the oath keepers a
group of tactically trained former military and police personnel for six
weeks
they turned the hills surrounding the mind into a patrol base they were ready
for war
then in January 2016 militia extremists flock to the town of burns Oregon
- support to ranchers sense to prison for starting fires on public lands after
a peaceful protest in January the second a small contingent of our men stormed a
nearby federal wildlife refuge
they occupied it for 41 days to of clive in bundy sun's led the occupation
numerous others came in way they threaten to kill or be killed in defense
of their version of long liberty
they wanted the federal government to give up its ownership of federal lands
in the West the occupiers claim to be representing the people of the area but
most locals felt differently
these events may have happened far from your community but no area of the
country is immune
in some urban areas militias have begun conducting training exercises in
preparation for a time when they believe they will be first responders
sometimes they may show up in volatile situations for example during the civil
unrest after an officer-involved shooting in Ferguson Missouri members of
the oath keepers walk the streets in body armor openly carrying assault
rifles others any government movement called on volunteers to monitor law
enforcement movements and track key events and locations of both the rioters
and responders increasingly communities nationwide have become focal points in a
fight law enforcement didn't want and officers are putting positions they
never expected
if your town is being targeted here are some common indicators widespread
community anger over the government's treatment of an individual group or
movement
calls to action often in the form of community meetings and public protests
many times focusing on authority figures escalating discussions and alerts on
social media
national any government leaders suddenly taking an interest in your community and
finally appearance of militia members in your area
they are usually armed they may be wearing para military outfits or just
civilian clothes but they will advertise their militia affiliation or any
government ideology in some form stickers patches emblems or flags
they may even sport familiar patriotic symbols but with a twist
once the militia appears to potential for conflict increases your response
becomes critical the militia not only target your community at target your
department officers are portrayed as pawns of the government and an enemy of
the people
Las Vegas Metro police sergeant Tom Jenkins knows this all too well
Jenkins was a month 30 Las Vegas cops called in to keep the peace at the Bundy
standoff in 2014
as tensions mounted Jenkins and his colleagues found themselves facing an
angry and growing crowd that was hundred strong Jenkins later told a reporter
that police didn't show any fear but said quote I tell you in the back of our
minds we thought that could be our last day on earth in South Alabama law
enforcement encountered a different kind of threat from any government activists
local and County officers begin to see people who call themselves sovereign
citizens acting like law enforcement a national group called the Republic for
the United States of America have been quietly training its members to patrol
the area's and monitor law enforce
armed and uniform and soon began confronting officers on patrol
what started as gatherings at a local restaurant evolved into a situation
where extremists are openly brandishing weapons and fake badges the threat isn't
always physical
there's also the danger that any government ideology can reach into the
ranks of law enforcement militias and their supporters are trying hard to
persuade officers to adopt their false interpretation of American law and
history
they believe that if they can get a sheriff a chief of police or an officer
on patrol to take their side their chances of define the federal government
are greater
well I'm not only need the job and back down
you have come along with this doctor there you can go ahead Hugh me what they
may say that the federal government has no authority over your area
they may say that sheriff's are the highest law enforcement authority in the
land they may even show you
documents they believe prove their claims they may invoke your oath of
office any government activists john ridd summer recently called on malicious
to demand that local officials uphold their version of the wall
you're too busy rolling around out there shooting a tree stumps
you can't sit there and do the real work
get an indictment presented to the sheriff
if they don't hold the law that's where the militia come in extreme is sometimes
called for citizens grand juries that they wrongly believe can indict
government officials
don't be fooled what they are asking in the guise of upholding your oath may
lead you to break the laws you've sworn to enforce they are preying on your
patriotism
it's a deal with the devil you can protect yourself and save the lives of
others by understanding the nature of this threat
how to prepare for it and what to do if it appears in your community
if a confrontation occurs trust your training
stay steady and wait them out it's important to know that any government
extremists are looking for a fight
they are waiting for you to cross the line that they've drawn in the sand
don't using lessons learned from waco siege in Montana in 1996 ended
peacefully after almost three months of patient negotiation but when the danger
has passed
move swiftly to hold those who break the law accountable at the 2016 occupation
and Oregon law enforcement waited for the right moment to begin making a
series of arrests eventually 25 people were arrested have local law enforcement
out front
one of the major law enforcement successes of the organ standoff was
putting local and state authorities in the foreground by the FBI work behind
the scenes that is not insignificant when dealing with the anti-government
movement which use the federal government as the enemy
these extremists are more likely to engage in discussions and reach a
peaceful resolution when dealing with local authorities collective wisdom
counts
remember you don't have to go it alone working as a team across all levels of
law enforcement was crucial in ending the refuge standoff seek advice and
additional resources from other agencies get your message out
communication is critical let your neighbors know just what these outside
forces represent while the anti-government movement claims to be
restoring law and order is not
instead he is creating tension fear
malicious seek to define conflicts as Patriots versus the government but in
Oregon people reacted in a way the occupiers did not expect the public was
resentful and openly voiced opposition without local support the reality became
apparent was criminals versus the community the law enforcement community
has learned many lessons from dealing with any government extremists both in
the nineteen nineties and in more recent years
they're armed many have extensive training with weapons and explosives and
some are ready to be martyred for their cause
there have been deaths on both sides since 2010 seven law enforcement
officers have been killed during violent encounters with any government
extremists during the refuge standoff the primary militia spokesman was shot
and killed as law enforcement attempted to arrest him and the bunny brothers
lavoy finicum became a martyr to the anti-government cause and rallies in
honor of him has spread across the nation planting the seeds of distrust
and anger and communities far and wide
so know that the events of the last three years are not merely history to
the movement they were called to arms
the members of the anti-government movement are false patriots who are
primed for a fight
don't give it to them
yeah
thanks for your service and thank you for really upholding the Constitution
yeah