[Peace-discuss] Watch it, you extreme civil libertarians...

[C. G. Estabrook]

[Remember that you can have no more civil liberty than the government allows. 
Don't go thinking that the Bill of Rights - designed to restrain the federal 
government - applies anymore.  Look what the Obama administration is doing about 
trials...  --CGE]

"Last weekend, the FBI conducted raids on suspected members of a Christian 
militia in the Midwest ... In the past year, federal agents have seen an 
increase in 'chatter' from an array of domestic extremist groups, which can 
include radical self-styled militias, white separatists or extreme civil 
libertarians and sovereign citizens."

	FBI warns letters to governors could stir violence
	By EILEEN SULLIVAN and DEVLIN BARRETT
	The Associated Press
	Friday, April 2, 2010; 8:09 PM

WASHINGTON -- The FBI is warning police across the country that an 
anti-government group's call to remove governors from office could provoke 
violence. The group called the Guardians of the free Republics wants to "restore 
America" by peacefully dismantling parts of the government, according to its Web 
site. It sent letters to governors demanding they leave office or be removed.

Investigators do not see threats of violence in the group's message, but fear 
the broad call for removal of top state officials could lead others to act out 
violently. At least two states beefed up security in response.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty said he received one of the letters but wasn't 
overly alarmed.

"We get all kinds of, shall we say, 'interesting' mail, so it's not out of the 
norm," Pawlenty said Friday. "It got more attention because it went to so many 
governors."

As of Wednesday, more than 30 governors had received letters saying if they 
don't leave office within three days they will be removed, according to an 
internal intelligence note by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security. 
The note was obtained by The Associated Press.

The FBI expects all 50 governors will eventually receive such letters.

Governors whose offices reported getting the letters included Jennifer Granholm 
of Michigan, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Chet Culver of Iowa, Dave Heineman of 
Nebraska, Jim Gibbons of Nevada, Brad Henry of Oklahoma, Mike Rounds of South 
Dakota, Bob McDonnell of Virginia, and Gary Herbert of Utah, where officials 
stepped up security in response to the letter.

In Nevada, screening machines for visitors and packages were added to the main 
entrance to the state Capitol as a precaution.

"We're not really overly concerned, but at the same time we don't want to sit 
back and do nothing and regret it," Deputy Chief of Staff Lynn Hettrick said.

Granholm spokeswoman Liz Boyd said federal authorities had alerted the governor 
that such a letter might be coming, and it arrived Monday. Boyd, who described 
the letter as "non-threatening," said it was opened by a staffer and immediately 
turned over to the Michigan State Police.

Jindal's office confirmed that the governor had received one of the letters and 
directed questions to the Louisiana State Police.

"They called us as they do for any letter that's out of the norm," said Lt. Doug 
Cain, a state police spokesman. He declined to provide specifics about the 
letter, but said, "not knowing the group and the information contained in the 
letter warranted state police to review it."

The FBI warning comes at a time of heightened attention to far-right extremist 
groups after the arrest of nine Christian militia members last weekend accused 
of plotting violence.

In explaining the letters sent to the governors, the intelligence note says 
officials have no specific knowledge of plans to use violence, but they caution 
police to be aware in case other individuals interpret the letters "as a 
justification for violence or other criminal actions."

The FBI associated the letter with "sovereign citizens," most of whom believe 
they are free from all duties of a U.S. citizen, like paying taxes or needing a 
government license to drive. A small number of these people are armed and resort 
to violence, according to the intelligence report.

Last weekend, the FBI conducted raids on suspected members of a Christian 
militia in the Midwest that was allegedly planning to kill police officers. In 
the past year, federal agents have seen an increase in "chatter" from an array 
of domestic extremist groups, which can include radical self-styled militias, 
white separatists or extreme civil libertarians and sovereign citizens.

----

Associated Press writers Melinda Deslatte in Baton Rouge, La., Brian Bakst in 
St. Paul, Minn., and David Aguilar in Detroit contributed to this report.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/02/AR2010040200844_pf.html

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