Historical Dictionary of Terrorism Third Edition

MILITIA MOVEMENT • 427non–militia members or supporters as bizarre and ill-founded, thepopularity of these populist notions may explain much of the appealof the militia movement for those Americans who are alienated fromconventional contemporary politics in the United States.By 31 March 1995 there were about 42 known private militiagroups in existence that advertised their existence. According to testimonyof Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) officialspresented in June 1995 before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommitteeon Terrorism, Technology, and Government Information,paramilitary militia groups could be found in at least 40 states. Accordingto the Southern Poverty Law Center, in 1996 their numberreached an all-time high of 858 but declined to 523 in 1997 and thento 435 in 1998. Other researchers have cited around 200 as being themaximum figure.At least 17 militia groups have been the subject of police investigationon various charges. Members of both the 1st MechanicalKansas Militia and the 3rd Continental Congress were arrested andconvicted on charges of plotting to bomb Fort Hood, Texas, in 1997.Members of the Arizona Patriots were convicted of conspiracy tobomb federal law enforcement targets in 1986. Members of theColorado 1st Light Infantry were arrested and convicted for chargesof possession of illegal firearms and explosives. The Freemen ofMontana were disbanded following prosecutions for extortion andintimidation of public officials after a highly publicized siege by lawenforcement officials in 1996. Similarly, members of one faction ofthe Republic of Texas were prosecuted and convicted for carryingout a hostage-barricade siege in 1997. Both the Washington StateMilitia and the Freemen of Washington were disbanded followingprosecutions of its members on charges of conspiracy and possessionof illegal weapons and explosives. Members of the MountaineerMilitia of West Virginia were convicted in 1996 for plotting to bombfederal government buildings. Members of the Virginia-based BlueRidge Hunt Club were arrested on arms charges in 1994, as wereseveral members of the Georgia Republic Militia in 1996. In 1995 theOklahoma Constitutional Militia was disbanded upon conviction ofits members for plotting to bomb gay bars, abortion clinics, and theSouthern Poverty Law Center. The Minnesota Patriots Council wasdisbanded upon conviction of its members for a plot to poison federalofficials with ricin. The San Joaquin Militia was disbanded upon the