FBI warns of threat from anti-government extremists

[Silent_Bob]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/07/us-usa-fbi-extremists-idUSTRE81600V20120207

(Reuters) - Anti-government extremists opposed to taxes and regulations pose a growing threat to local law enforcement officers in the United States, the FBI warned on Monday.

These extremists, sometimes known as "sovereign citizens," believe they can live outside any type of government authority, FBI agents said at a news conference.

The extremists may refuse to pay taxes, defy government environmental regulations and believe the United States went bankrupt by going off the gold standard.

Routine encounters with police can turn violent "at the drop of a hat," said Stuart McArthur, deputy assistant director in the FBI's counterterrorism division.

"We thought it was important to increase the visibility of the threat with state and local law enforcement," he said.

In May 2010, two West Memphis, Arkansas, police officers were shot and killed in an argument that developed after they pulled over a "sovereign citizen" in traffic.

Last year, an extremist in Texas opened fire on a police officer during a traffic stop. The officer was not hit.

Legal convictions of such extremists, mostly for white-collar crimes such as fraud, have increased from 10 in 2009 to 18 each in 2010 and 2011, FBI agents said.

"We are being inundated right now with requests for training from state and local law enforcement on sovereign-related matters," said Casey Carty, an FBI supervisory special agent.

FBI agents said they do not have a tally of people who consider themselves "sovereign citizens."

J.J. MacNab, a former tax and insurance expert who is an analyst covering the sovereign movement, has estimated that it has about 100,000 members.

Sovereign members often express particular outrage at tax collection, putting Internal Revenue Service employees at risk.

[Kat Kanning]

Wow, what propaganda.  Is this like all the propaganda they put out on a country before they bomb them to death?

18 incidents a year is being 'inundated'? 

[Tom Sawyer]

J.J. MacNab, a former tax and insurance expert who is an analyst covering the sovereign movement, has estimated that it has about 100,000 members.

I declare my member Sovereign!

The 100,000 Member March
Sovereign members rise!



That J.J. McNab, kind of reminds me of McGruff the crime dog.

[John]

Winner Dare To SAY NO TO THUGS.
Thugs are not for me.

[Free libertarian]

Hey Boo boo...I reserve the right to arm bears.

[MaineShark]

Winner Dare To SAY NO TO THUGS.
Thugs are not for me.

I want that poster.

Also need to change the "take a bite out of crime" to something interesting that helps indicate which thugs in particular are the biggest threat.  "Take a bite out of oppression," maybe?  Doesn't seem perfect.  Maybe someone else has a better suggestion?

[Russell Kanning]

I have noticed that routine encounters with police can turn violent in a drop of a hat

[Free libertarian]

I have noticed that routine encounters with police can turn violent in a drop of a hat

...or if you fail to doff your hat in a timely manner.   

[Russell Kanning]

that'll cost ya