Posted on 11/11/2006 7:29:21 AM PST by Firefigher NC
FAYETTEVILLE — A Fayetteville militia member was arrested Wednesday by teams of special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other federal and state agencies and local police in connection with illegal firearms.
Fayetteville police Lt. Mike Reynolds said 14 search warrants were executed Wednesday in Fort Smith and Fayetteville and one of the warrants was for a lieutenant commander of the Militia of Washington County, Hollis “Wayne” Fincher, of 16085 East Black Oak Road. “We assisted ATF and several other agencies in arresting Fincher. I don’t believe he has a criminal history with us. That’s all I can tell you,” Reynolds said.
Washington County Sheriff Tim Helder said he couldn’t comment on the arrest or Fincher.
Fincher was arrested without incident at his residence, according to an ATF news release.
Senior ATF Special Agent Austin R. Banks said he was restricted to releasing anything beyond the news release. He did confirm Fincher has no criminal record and he was the only person arrested.
The arrest and search warrants were the result of an eight-month investigation relating to the unlawful manufacture, possession and transfer of machine guns, Banks said.
A machine gun that can fire 550 rounds a minute and assorted 9 mm Sten submachine guns are stored in the Washington County militia’s concrete and steel vault, according to information gathered from an interview conducted by The Morning News in March. Each weapon is stamped with the word “non-commercial” to prove the group holds the arms for militia purchases only and not for trade or sale.
Owners of automatic weapons must pay $200 to license each automatic weapon they own. Militia members avoided that by re-building government-destroyed automatic weapons for their own use, Paul Smith, militia commander said in March.
Fincher said in the March interview he believes Americans should proudly uphold the right to bear arms, stand up for land rights and not always accept the federal government as the supreme law of the land.
“What we’ve got to do today is hold our ground,” Fincher said in March.
According to the militia’s Web site, the headquarters is down the road from Fincher’s address at 15566 E. Black Oak Road. The militia was formed July 4, 1994.
Thirteen additional federal search warrants were executed at different places in the Fort Smith-Fayetteville area, Banks said. The warrants are under seal at the direction of the U.S. Attorney for the Western Judicial District of Arkansas. All evidence seized during the execution of the warrants will be submitted to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the preparation of indictments in this investigation.
ATF, FBI, Washington County Sheriff’s Department, Fayetteville Police Department, Springdale Police Department, Arkansas State Police, Arkansas State Bomb Squad and the Madison County Sheriff’s Department participated in the investigation.
The investigation was conducted under Project Safe Neighborhoods, the U.S. Department of Justice initiative that combines federal, state and local resources to combat violent gun crime. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas will prosecute the case.
I agree completely.
Well, considering that the BATF has NO STANDARDS of testing and no written procedures on determination of the status of a weapon, I suspect that they'll have some problems getting a conviction like in the Wrenn case.
Mike
Which will then refuse to hear it.
You sure do have quite ythe admiration for the BATFags.
If you admire him so much perhaps you should emulate his stunt.
What qualifies him as an "asshole"? He had no criminal record and was described by those in the community as a peaceful man. Why your disdain for him?
Do you always slander people with no criminal record who are acting in accordance with their Constitutionally protected Rights?
He was aware of the law and he was most certainly aware that he was risking consequences for any real or perceived violation of that law. Thus I referred to him as a martyr.
You interpreted that as supporting the BATF. That is not the case. Either he intentionally did what he did in support of his issue or he was a dumbass for trying to circumvent the system.
The undeniable fact of life is that actions have consequences.
It is amusing that you folks piss and moan about law enforcement when you should be complaining about the legislative branch of Government that either formulates these laws or fails to perform oversight functions.
The "system" is unconstitutional and defying it is an honorable action. Did you refer to Rosa Parks as a "dumbass" as well?
Nah, they are protecting against an armed coup (sp?).
If the "system" is unconstitutional, why was he arrested and why will he be prosecuted? So he is a martyr instead of a dumbass. Fair enough.
What, Sir, is the use of a militia? It is to prevent the establishment of a standing army, the bane of liberty...Whenever Governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they always attempt to destroy the militia, in order to raise an army upon their ruins.
SCOTUS will probably overturn South Dakota's abortion ban, and the Gay marrige ban in those states that have them as well.
It also explains why the Left wants the military practically destroyed. It Prevents them from committing a coup should the US government decide it is time to go majorly extraconstitutional and take guns away from the citizens.
Shoot...an M1 carbin can spit out plenty and you have control too. If you want knock down, the Garand. If you want kick, the 1903 or the Enfield 1917. If you want B&G, any good pump shotgun will do...
If the "system" is unconstitutional, why was he arrested and why will he be prosecuted?
Because the legislative branch of Government that formulates these laws is ignoring the Constitution and failing to perform its oversight functions. -- And the executive branch is also ignoring & failing to enforce only constitutional laws.
He was aware of the law and he was most certainly aware that he was risking consequences for any real or perceived violation of that law. Thus I referred to him as a martyr.
You also referred to him as an a-hole & dumb-ass for raising a test case on a constitutional issue.
You interpreted that as supporting the BATF. That is not the case.
Your saying "-- If the "system" is unconstitutional --" makes your support clearly pro-prohibitional.
Either he intentionally did what he did in support of his issue or he was a dumbass for trying to circumvent the system. The undeniable fact of life is that actions have consequences. It is amusing that you folks piss and moan about law enforcement when you should be complaining about the legislative branch of Government that either formulates these laws or fails to perform oversight functions.
It is amusing that you pro-prohibition folks piss and moan about being seen as supporting 'big' gov't and the ATF when you don't complain about the legislative branch of Government that formulates these socalled 'laws'...
I suppose if one were skilled in machining and design then having your own unlawful but secret automatic weapon for the extremest of emergencies could be rational.
Taunting those with lots more power and firepower than you isn't rational.
I suppose if one were skilled in machining and design then having your own unlawful but secret automatic weapon for the extremest of emergencies could be rational.
"Could be"? What's irrational about wanting the freedom to keep & bear full auto weapons?
Taunting those with lots more power and firepower than you isn't rational.
He wasn't "taunting", -- he's raised a test case hoping he can get his case heard in the USSC. -- I really can't understand how ~anyone~ could rationally object to his effort.
Can you explain your reason?
"He was aware of the law and he was most certainly aware that he was risking consequences for any real or perceived violation of that law. Thus I referred to him as a martyr."
I think he was aware of the law too, He's sixty years old, and the head of a militia, he kept his wepons properly stored, he had no criminal record, what better place can you think of to start this battle?
"The undeniable fact of life is that actions have consequences." ... and not all are bad.
Mr. Hollis "Wayne" Fincher may be doing us ALL a great service...and only time will tell. We could witnessing history in the making. One can only hope.
01
+2 rut row
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