Being brain-dead stupid about it, over some Stens, is another.
Stupid about Stens? -- That's the question.
As I commented at #30:
Appears to me that they intend to challenge the NFA of '34 in court, - on the constitutional grounds that an 'unorganized' militia can possess full auto weapons as per the 2nd.
Incredibly enough, some FReepers think this is crazy.. To me it's crazy to believe the '34 'act' is constitutional. -- Do you?
Friends defend militia leader arrested by feds
BY KATE WARD Northwest Arkansas Times
Posted on Friday, November 10, 2006
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/nwat/News/46955/
Friends of a Washington County Militia leader accused of possessing illegal firearms are rallying to show their support for him.
Hollis " Wayne" Fincher, 60, of 16085 E. Black Oak Road in Fayetteville was released from the Washington County Jail on Thursday and is being held for federal authorities at an undisclosed location. He is scheduled to appear at a 1: 30 p. m. hearing Monday in U. S. District Court in Fort Smith.
Fincher was arrested Wednesday after an eightmonth investigation related to the unlawful manufacture, possession and transfer of fully automatic guns.
The arrest became fodder for local talk radio and boiled over Thursday evening at the Washington County Quorum Court meeting when Washington County Judge Jerry Hunton spoke prior to the meeting, defending himself against charges made on local radio earlier in the date that Hunton was involved in Fincher's arrest. Hunton denied any involvement.
Don Bright, a local resident known as a regular contributor to talk radio shows, stood up and said Hunton was referring to his comments earlier in the day. He called Hunton " a liar. " As a yelling match ensued, Bright was escorted from the meeting by Sheriff Tim Helder and a deputy, but was not arrested. Bright, contacted by phone later, said he had no comment.
" I heard that Don Bright was on the radio this morning saying that [I ] caused this whole investigation, " Hunton said in an interview earlier Thursday. " That's completely untrue.
There was a whole story on Wayne in the newspaper with a picture of him cradling a machine gun. I think that picture probably got the attention of authorities and that's probably how this thing got started. "
Teams of special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and other agencies executed 14 search warrants in an early-morning operation Wednesday throughout the Fort Smith and Fayetteville area. The warrants are under seal at the direction of the U. S. Attorney's Office.
The evidence seized will be submitted to the U. S. Attorney's Office for the preparation of indictments.
Jay Cole, a local pastor known for his television commercials encouraging viewers to follow God, said Fincher is not a violent man.
" I don't believe Wayne would do that, " Cole said. " He's given me paper work and he's published things in the paper about what his group does. He's not hiding anything — he's interested in protecting the rights of the citizens. If there's anyone who's not violent, it's Wayne Fincher. "
Hunton, interviewed Thursday before the flareup with Bright, said Fincher hasn't been any trouble as far as he knows.
" The only dealings I've had with Wayne is when he's come to Quorum Court to express his opinion on different issues, " he said. " Wayne obviously has a strong opinion about property rights, but I've always found him to be fairly cordial. He was a little out of line at one meeting, but the more I've gotten to know him, he's become pretty courteous. "
The Washington County Militia is headquartered down the road from Fincher's residence at 15566 E. Black Oak Road —about 5. 5 miles south of Huntsville Road. According to its Web site, http: // www. arkansasmilitia. com, the group has been active since 1994 and is committed to " defending liberty and serving Washington County."
The organization holds a weekly muster every Friday evening at 7 p. m. that is open to the public.
" Wayne and his wife used to go to our church and they used to have their meetings down the road at Ozark Electric until they built their new headquarters, " Cole said. I've known Wayne for a long time and he wouldn't hurt a fly. "
Cole's son, Jay Cole Jr., said he too, is a close friend of Fincher's.
" Wayne's primarily an educator on constitutional issues, " he said. " He's not planning to shoot anyone —he's planning to tell people about their needs. Their God-given rights are being violated and someone needs to do something about it. "
Johnny Tittle, host of a local radio talk show, said his Thursday morning talk show centered on Fincher's arrest.
" We went the whole two hours talking about it because that's what my callers wanted to talk about, " he said. " I've known Wayne for a long time and there are some things that are puzzling about this whole thing.
The group that arrested him have known about those particular elements for six years.
[Fincher ] notified the ATF, FBI, state Attorney General, governor and local police about what he was doing.
They haven't done anything wrong that they're trying to hide. "
Tittle said Fincher is a regular caller on his radio show.
" There's not a more peaceful, law-abiding man —he's never broken the law, " Tittle said.
Despite local support, authorities say Fincher violated federal laws and should face the consequences.
" Sometimes these operations may seem innocent to the general public, but these people haven't taken responsibility to have such weapons okayed, " said ATF Special Agent Austin Banks.
" It presents a threat to the community.... I believe [the investigation ] got very dangerous weapons out of the community and out of the hands of people who were not legally supposed to have them. "
Definitely so, and I wish them good luck. The NRA should have challenged it long ago.