Posted on 09/08/2002 4:34:02 AM PDT by toddst
Edited on 05/07/2004 6:46:44 PM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The militia movement in Kentucky, once a stronghold of paramilitary activity in the United States, appears to be waning.
With former Kentucky State Militia commander Charlie Puckett in prison and Steve Anderson -- another high-profile member of the group -- being sought as a fugitive, the militia is in disarray, despite recent efforts to regroup.
(Excerpt) Read more at courier-journal.com ...
However, no mention is made of the ATF, who did target Mr. Puckett. He committed no crime, but wanted his life back so plea-bargained to avoud spending the rest of his life in prison.
And I'm sure Mr Puckett admitted guilt to avoid prison. How convenient.
No crime to brew up a few pipe bombs, I guess.
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Actually, the decline in militia memberships is due to one thing, and only one thing - the 75% of members who were actually agents for the FBI, BATF, DEA, CIA, NSA, NRO, and all the other alphabet soups got called back to Washington to work on other matters. Since the government ones were reportedly the only militia members out there urging the remaining 25% to go out and blow something up, their absence is actually a good thing.
Then of course you have the Bo Gritz's of the world that use their honorable military service record as a "cult of personality" to manipulate people into thinking he is an American patriot, when in fact he is just making money off of his name. Then again, bhe could be working for the government and compiling lists of names of those that contribute and/or join his organization.
IMO, the "militias" will be nothing to worry about until such a time as professional soldiers band together. A militia group such as this will not advertise. They will be a clandetine operation consisting of known and trusted members. We will not hear about them until they strike, and even then, I would be surprised if we ever learned who actually committed the attack.
Can you imagine the havok a militia group consisting of ex-D-boys, SF and bat-boys could make? The scum in DC would be shaking in their boots. I get a warm fuzzy just thinking about it.
Things will have to get much worse than they are for this to happen though (IMO).
There's quite a bit on Mr. Puckett available through FR search.
He had no pipe bombs, only the "materials" required. If you reload and have plumber supplies at your home you too can be charged by the ATF.
Mr. Puckett is serving two-plus years in federal prison even though he committed no crime. I recommend you read about this case and then point out what crime he did commit.
The "felony" was stealing food from a store prior to 1968. He was charged with possessing guns as a convicted felon even though the law was being applied retroactively. The ATF was out to burn Mr.Puckett and did just that.
Yes it does. You will also notice the issue of defining the felony Mr. Puckett committed (prior to 1968) was never presented. Neither did our reporter point out the case was pushed by the ATF, not the US Attorney.
Of course not. The prisons are full of innocent people.
Yeah right. The article says he had "pipe bombs."
So does this one:
A convicted felon, Puckett was under house arrest when he fled March 14. He was charged Feb. 26 with possessing guns, pipe bombs and ammunition in violation of federal law.
According to a nine-count indictment, Puckett possessed a device used to convert an assault rifle into a machine gun, three pipe bombs, five ''mine-type devices,'' plus shotguns, rifles and pistols, a grenade pistol and more than 35,000 ammunition rounds.
http://www.courier-journal.com/localnews/2002/04/05/ke040502s182206.htm
America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
New Link: Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)
"He was charged with. . ." Look at the laundry list, none of which was ever presented in court. Unless they are presented as evidence I'm not willing to accept the pipe bombs or "mine-type devices" existed. The ATF was after Mr. Puckett over the issue of his being a "felon" in posession of guns and ammunition. This restriction did not exist until the 1968 Gun Control Act was passed. Mr. Puckett's felony was theft of food before 1968.
Do you have confidence in "the article" written by a leftist anti-gun reporter? I don't. Mr. Puckett did a plea-bargain to get his life back. I don't blame him for going that route. Do you?
I don't believe for one minute prisons are full of innocent people. However, Mr. Puckett was railroaded by the ATF and did a plea-bargain to get most of his life back.
Given, he didn't wage war over how he was mistreated (improper use of the '68 Gun Control Act) but that could have caused him to serve many more years in the federal pen. I wouldn't go there, would you?
What part of "nine-count indictment" don't you understand? If he copped a plea, he had to admit to it. Quit trying to alibi for wackjob outlaws.
America's Fifth Column ... watch PBS documentary JIHAD! In America
New Link: Download 8 Mb zip file here (60 minute video)
Mr. Puckett is entitled to his opinions. He hurt no-one. The ATF stacked up charges that had no basis in fact, other than Mr. Puckett being in possession of guns and ammunition as a convicted felon under the '68 Gun Control Act, which did not apply to his earlier crime. This does not make him an outlaw IMO. So I suppose we have to agree to disagree.
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