Federal Agents Raid Militia Activist's Property (Gun Confiscation)

Detroit News Channel 7, WDIV News Channel 4 ^ | November 7, 2002 | John Klekamp

[Truth Telling Guy]

Federal Agents Raid Militia Activist's Property Reported by John Klekamp Web Produced by Christiana Ciolac

U.S. Marshals searched the property of Michigan Militia member Mark Koernke. Video

Federal agents got more than they bargained for when they raided the home of local militia activist Mark Koernke.

Mark Koernke has been in prison for more than two years.

U.S. Marshals were out Wednesday at his Dexter property from reports from a pirate radio operation and when they were out there, they saw something and alerted the ATF.

Deputies shut down Dexter-Pinkney Road as authorities searched the property of jailed militia member Mark Koernke. ATF agents said they found weapons, but they would not say how many.

"So far we found a large number of guns and a large quantity of ammunition," said ATF Special Agent Gregory Holley.

The federal search warrant was executed after U.S. Marshals had entered the home to confiscate a low powered transmitter used for a pirate radio station, 90.7FM.

"The local deputies in this area said there isn't much range to it. You can hear it somewhere within the village area which is somewhere within maybe two mile or so, but it's very short," said Washtenaw County Sheriff Daniel Minzey said.

All that can be heard on the frequency now is static. Deputies say Koernke the FM station is used to spread his message about the Michigan militia. Koernke is in state prison doing time for a high-speed chase back in March 2000.

Authorities say they have had many encounters with Koernke in the past, even though he is behind bars, they are not done with him yet.

"We don't want to say it is illegal or legal, but some of these weapons will be going to the lab for determination to see if they are in violation of the federal laws. At that time if it is so, we will file federal charges," said Special Agent Holley.

Authorities say Koernke's wife and two sons live at the property in Dexter. It is not clear who owns the weapons or who was running the radio station.

Former Michigan Militia Leader's Home Raided U.S. Marshals Find Guns, Ammunition Inside Posted: 8:27 a.m. EST November 7, 2002 Updated: 8:48 a.m. EST November 7, 2002

U.S. Marshals raided the home of a former leader of the Michigan Militia Wednesday night.

Federal authorities went to the Dexter home of Mark Koernke (pictured, left) to serve a warrant for illegal use of radio equipment. Inside they found a stash of guns and ammunition, Local 4 reported.

Koernke is currently in custody on other weapons charges.

Federal authorities believe that weapons they seized Wednesday night belong to Koernke and not his family. He could face new federal firearms charges if the weapons belong to him, the station reported.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/det/news/stories/news-177205820021107-071113.html

[Truth Telling Guy]

Warrant for a very low powered pirate radio and they look for and confiscate guns, none of which that they know to be "illegal".

[Truth Telling Guy]

http://www.clickondetroit.com/det/news/stories/news-177205820021107-071113.html

[Lloyd227]

I know it's difficult sometimes to make a legal distinction between a "militia" group such as this vs a group of hate filled muslims with intents on terrorism, however it's the private militias who might someday be the only thing standing between the rest of us and an all out U.N. controlled police state.

[copycat]

It just doesn't pay to operate above the radar. You make yourself a target.

Better that each individaul who considers his militia responsibilities seriously prepare himself quietly. If the scheiss ever hits the fan, there will be time enough to network with like-minded Americans.

[the crow]

"We don't want to say it is illegal or legal, but some of these weapons will be going to the lab for determination to see if they are in violation of the federal laws. At that time if it is so, we will file federal charges," said Special Agent Holley.

Give them a week or two and they will have these doctored up nicely.

[Skywalk]

Cripes, what country do we live in??

When garbage like this goes away, I'll be happier about the GOP taking the government back. Until then, I remain skeptical.

[Truth Telling Guy]

How many people do you inform by keeping quiet due to government intimidation?

How can an activist achiev anything by keepin quiet?

[CWRWinger]

I doubt if the radio station is illegal. There are probably a bunch of these operating all over the country.

[Truth Telling Guy]

Yes lots of weapons can easily become "illegalized" quickly with a hack saw.

And the ATF and the FBI crime lab are such a trusty bunch. LOL

[Truth Telling Guy]

IOt's not illegal at all. Thousands operate around the country. Many at schools and churchs and colleges. You can buy them legally at mail order electronics stores.

[Truth Telling Guy]

Thank God we had the militia's in 1776 and before.

[CWRWinger]

Anyone wanting a "Low Power FM Station Primer", please freep mail me. It's too long to post here.

[11B3]

"When garbage like this goes away, I'll be happier about the GOP taking the government back. Until then, I remain skeptical."

To whom are you referring, exactly? And what does that have to do with the Republicans taking over the Senate? Your linkage of the two sounds like typical liberal logic - as in none at all.

[panaxanax]

You hit the nail right on the head, Lloyd!

"So far we found a large number of guns and a large quantity of ammunition," said ATF Special Agent Gregory Holley.

Special Agent Holley just described what I see in most of my friends homes. They could go into almost any gun collectors den and find the same thing. What exactly is a LARGE quantity of ammunition or guns? More than what they think we should have? Why is more than one gun always referred to as a "stash" or "cache" of weapons?

I'm not taking the side of Mark Koernke, because I don't know just how radical he is or what he's being charged with. They fed boys must understand that it is NOT illegal to be a member of any local militia and it is NOT illegal to own guns and "large" amounts of ammo.

If he's a Felon and restricted from being around guns, then so be it, he's wrong. If these guns are legal, they can't charge him with anything and he would only be breaking the law if he was there.

If they REALLY wanted to confiscate some illegal weapons, plus the added bonus of catching illegal aliens then they should get their butts to our borders where a much greater threat exists.

If our government continues to defy common sense and allow the estimated 5000 per day illegals to cross into our country, then folks, we are indeed doomed.

[Skywalk]

It occurred to me that I would be misunderstood(net was down for a bit) so let me clarify.

By "garbage" I'm referring not to the man, but to confiscation of firearms and the general attitude in our federal agencies(and frankly even at local levels) that the mere ownership of guns and belief in liberty are criminal enterprises or thought crimes.

As for the recent GOP election, I'm referring to the fact that Ruby Ridge happened under Dubya's father's watch, and that Dubya himself has done little to clean out the Clinton holdovers that have cost Americans their lives(a la Tenet and the appeasers in the State Dept) and their freedom(name a government agency! lol) When the GOP takes a more aggressive tack in prosecuting murderers responsible for Waco, various DEA murders(er, i mean accidental shootings) and combating leftie propaganda I'll feel better about this recent win(which I'm pleased with, BTW)

[disgustedvet]

Nancy Keornke was on one of the short wave radio shows last night. Evidently, Mark Keornke had a ham operator's license, therefore his home is subject to search without a warrant 24/7 under the cloak of a "station inspection". So the FCC and US Marshals march in, see a gun, and call the ATF. There were guns in the home, and Nancy has shown where she had gotten them appraised recently, as her intent is/was to sell them prior to her husband's release (note: he is not close to parole).

So, since the FCC didn't need a warrant, and they called the ATF, the ATF took their weapons to the lab "for inspection" to determine if they are illegal in any way, all without a warrant. It is common knowledge that the ATF armorers/gunsmiths can make anything illegal if they need to, but that's a whole other topic.

Also, Nancy insists that there were NO machine guns in the home whatsoever. One BATF agent clearly told at least one local reporter that they had found at least one machine gun. When Nancy was on the radio last night, she stated that after the BATF has ransacked her home, she went up to the second story where the ATF said they found the machine gun, and found a window open. Now, I don't want to sound like a "tin foiler" here, but if you think for one minute that the BATF WOULD NOT plant evidence in the home of a convicted militia leader if they thought it would keep him in prison for another 5 to 10 yrs, then you have your head in the sand.

The militia groups in this country are not a danger to anyone, except for federal agents who trample on the rights that God has given us. They are not friends with Tim McVeigh, they don't hate Jews, and they don't want to overthrow our government and start another. All they want is the preservation of our Constitutional liberties. Nothing more, nothing less.

[Truth Telling Guy]

BATF = Burn All Todlers First

ATF = Anti-American Terrorist Federation

[dd5339]

Pay close attention to what is said in Post#16. This is scary stuff!

73's

Semper Fi

[husky ed]

Just wondering what is the quantity of firearms and ammo that will trigger an ATF raid?

Need to know as I will very soon be buying everything I can get my hands on. So if I'm going to have company, I want to be prepared.

[disgustedvet]

It is my understanding that there are federal laws regulating how many rounds of ammunition you can have at any one time. There is also federal laws governing how much food you can legally have on hand as well.

I'm sorry, but I do not have a link to prove this at this time. I will see what I can turn up. But, as I understand it, you cannot have more than 1,000 rounds of ammo, and cannot have more than a six month supply of food on hand.

Now, will the feds ransack your home because you have 1,050 rounds of ammo? Probably not. What about the people (lots down here in the south) who still have gardens and can their own food? Are the feds going to cart them off for having one year's worth of green beans that they canned themselves? Probably not. BUT, it is a "loophole law", so that if they raid your home, and can't get you on anything else, they can charge you with a felony based on your ammo and food supply .... just like a BATF agent could easily charge me personally with having bomb making materials on hand based solely on the fact that I have kitchen cleaner under my sink and PVC pipe on my property. Am I going to make a bomb with those materials? Certainly not. Neither was Charlie Puckett in KY, and that is what the BATF said he was going to do with his kitchen cleaner and spare PVC pipe. It didn't stop the BATF from claiming otherwise, though.

The whole point of this is that there are so many federal laws on the books that most of us are felons, and we don't even know it because we haven't been targetted yet. Bottom line - if the BATF wants you, they can have you. The courts and media will not help you. Those that choose to chance it with their day in court ALWAYS LOSE.

A friendly word of advice from a fellow freeper. If you are inclined to aquire "gold, guns, and goodies", it would behoove you to burry them in an undisclosed location OFF OF YOUR PROPERTY, else the BATF accuse you of being a "domestic militia terrorist", raid your home, charge you with 100 different crimes, and cart your butt right off to the pokey. Once they get you out of the way, then they'll come for the rest of your family!