The number of conspiracy-minded antigovernment “Patriot” groups involving the American radical right reached an all-time high in 2012, the fourth consecutive year of powerful growth by a movement that is becoming increasingly militant as President Obama enters his second term and Congress debates gun control measures, according to a report issued today by the SPLC.
28 of those "Patriot" groups are reportedly located in Arizona.
Source: SPLC Extremism Report 2013
Yet another source of "pride" for us Arizonans.
ReplyDeleteLOL! If it's any consolation, at least we're not topping the list.
ReplyDeleteThat's almost a surprise.
DeleteI just watched this 60 Minutes episode concerning "Sovereign Citizens". I've never heard that description before, but these folks sound scary as hell to me. Scary in that they feel they have nothing to lose.
ReplyDeleteI think these two people sum up what I think about the IRS targeting of certain "conservative" groups. Robert Reich: The IRS and the Real Scandal and Weyant's World: May 14, 2013
ReplyDeleteBetter late than never for reading a local news report about this topic.
ReplyDelete"I think without social media, the militia movement would be a shred of what it is right now," said Bill Straus, the Arizona regional director of the Anti Defamation League, which tracks militias across the country.
Straus said the movement is on an upswing, thanks, in some degree, to a newer message. In Arizona, militia leaders have focused their recruiting speeches on curbing drug smuggling and protecting the Second Amendment.
"They want to gain supporters. They want to increase their numbers. So they're going to say things that have the greatest mass appeal. But the truth of the militia movement is they're anti-government and they're really anti-minority," said Straus.
Read more at - KPHO: Militia movement rising in Arizona