MIAC Report Wrongly Profiles Views

Consider Liberty
By Mike A. Bozarth

“A new document meant to help Missouri law enforcement agencies identify militia members…has drawn criticism for some of the warning signs mentioned,” according to an Associated Press story carried in The St. Joseph News Press March 15.

The Feb. 20 report called “The Modern Militia Movement” mentions such red flags as bumper stickers for third-party candidates, such as Rep. Bob Barr, Libertarian , Pastor Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution party and Rep. Ron Paul who ran in the Republican primaries. Talk of conspiracy theories, such as the plan for a superhighway linking Canada to Mexico and possession of “subversive literature.”

Tim Neal, a military veteran and delegate to last year’s state GOP convention, was shocked by the report’s contents according to the Associated Press story.

“I was going down the list and thinking, ‘Check, that’s me,” he said. “I’m a Ron Paul supporter, check. I talk about the North American union, check. I’ve got the “America: Freedom to Fascism” video (by Producer Aaron Russo) loaned out to somebody right now. So that means I’m a domestic terrorist? Because I’ve got a video about the Federal Reserve?”

Neal, who has a Ron Paul bumper sticker on his car, said the next time he is pulled over by a police officer, he won’t know whether it’s because he was speeding or because of his political views.

Indeed, I feel about the same way. I’ve known Congressman Ron Paul since 1987 and support him and most of his views. I donated to and voted for former Congressman Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate. I met Pastor Chuck Baldwin, the Constitution party candidate, and covered his campaign at a rally in North Kansas City last fall for The Telegraph.

One thing that all three of these candidates stand for is limited, Constitutional government and strong support for the Bill of Rights.

I support those same values, as do many libertarian Democrats such as former Sen. Mike Gravel and Sen. Jon Tester.

Yet I have never been a part of any militia movement.

Indeed, any law enforcement entity that uses support for our Constitution and Bill of Rights as a critera for being some sort of a subversive deserves to be investigated.

Tuesday I spoke with State Rep. Jim Guest (R-King City) about the legislature taking a look at the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) that prepared the report for the highway partrol.

Rep. Guest’s Capitol Reports column, on page three, also addresses the MIAC report.

Since most Missouri media has not carried anything since the initial report over the weekend, I have rounded up responses from several of the groups mentioned.

The Libertarian and Constitution party’s reponses are on page four and one from Ron Paul’s Campaign for Liberty is on page five.

People should be very concerned that support of our country’s founding documents could profile you as a militant.

I own a bumper sticker that reads “I love my country but fear my government,” but I’ll be darned if I’ll put that on my car. They’re liable to think that my long-graying hair is just a cover-up for being some sort of a skin head.

Americans lost much privacy and freedom with George Bush’s socalled “Patriot Act.”This MIAC report makes honest, law-abiding patriotic people look subversive.

It is reports such as this that make many Americans, including myself, suspicious of government. Hopefully the legislature will investigate this report and not allow our state police to profile innocent Missourians.