European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - October 19, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Armed and determined citizen militias willing to fight for their rights by John Flesher the associated press or members of the Northern Michigan regional militia the signs Are everywhere they have reports of helicopters hovering Over houses shekel s on the backs of Highway signs with indecipherable codes that just might be messages for foreign troops . Military vehicles spotted in Western states. Maybe it s All harmless they say. But maybe not a maybe the tentacles of a foreign dominated police state Are already spreading throughout the continent. The militiamen Are taking no chances. They and other hard Core gun activists around the nation Are organizing planning training for the Day when their guns will be weapons of  we re not Here playing Soldier we re not foolishly looking for trouble. But tyrants should know that they will be met with Force said Norm Olson commander of the Northern Michigan militia. It s unclear How Many self styled militias exist nationwide. The Fri keeps no list and would Monitor them Only if they were suspected of violating Federal Law or planning to do so said Agency spokesman Hank . But mainstream groups on both sides of the gun control debate agree that the militia movement is for real. Quot in some cases they re setting up what i d Call legitimate groups to lobby and pressure local governments Quot said Alan Gottlieb chairman of the citizens committee for the right to keep and Bear arms. Quot but you re also seeing the More extreme elements. Who feel the Only Way to take Back the government is through armed  the militias said Ray Southwell of the Northern Michigan group Are led by spiritual heirs of the revolutionary Era citizens who took up arms against British tyranny. Only now he said the . Government is the tyrant. His evidence the crime Bill which bans some assault Type weapons the Brady Law s National waiting period for handgun purchases the Quot murder Quot of David Koresh and his Branch Davidian followers in Texas said to be proof that the government will do anything to take guns from civilians. Quot we need to take a stand. Before All our liberties Are gone Quot he said. Some see gun control As part of a broader conspiracy to bring about world government. If that Day comes they say americans will be ruled by a socialist United nations which will abolish Freedom of religion and speech. Foreign troops will occupy . Soil confiscating private weapons and property. A a Quot am i nuts am i paranoid maybe but i m seeing things that scare me and i want to find out what s going on Quot Southwell said. He s not alone. Randy Trochman of Noxon mont., believes in the world Dit tutorship conspiracy. He is a member of the  Montana which has been forming local chapters since february and is assisting similar efforts in Idaho and Washington state. Quot our objective is  organizations similar to ours in every county in the country Quot he said. Quot people Are getting together to defend . In Florida the militia movement is picking up Quot lire a snowball rolling Down a Mountain Quot said Robert Rummer a member from Stuart. Norm Olson commander of the Northern Michigan regional militia talks on the phone with a potential militia Volunteer at the militia s command Post in Alanson Mich. A such topics As fire building and Compass Reading. Each is required to own a Rifle at least 100 rounds of ammunition and a Knapsack containing a mess kit sleeping bag and first Aid supplies. Members take an oath to defend the Constitution. Against enemies Quot foreign and Domestic their conduct code demands a willingness to die for their Liberty and a Promise never to surrender or divulge information about the militia if taken Quot prisoner of  outsiders this might seem the stuff of a a Grade movie farce gun toting men in military fatigues some with faces blackened for combat preparing for doomsday in Rural Northern Michigan but it s no joke to Mary Hessel mayor of Pellston Mich., population 580. She feuded with the militia this summer because members were bringing unloaded rifles to meetings in local Parks. Quot we Don t need this kind of thing. We re just a quiet peaceful Little Community Quot Hessel said. Quot i had one person ask me what s next the Kkt the Neo nazis Quot Olson said Ordinary citizens have nothing to fear from the militia. Quot we Are Here to protect their liberties and. Ours Quot he . The militiamen say the nation s founders believed citizens should Arm themselves to keep government in line. They cite the second amendment reference to a Quot Well regulated militia being necessary to the Security of a free  and they say Laws in Michigan and Many states Sanction an Quot organized militia Quot a the National guard and other professional forces a and an Quot unorganized militia Quot consisting of Able bodied civilians. Dennis Henigan general counsel for Washington it  handgun control inc., said people charged with firearms Law violations sometimes claim membership in the. So called unorganized militia. But courts have ruled the Quot militia Quot in the second amendment Means an Arm of state government he said. Quot what seems to be going on in Michigan is formation of something Akin to a private army Quot Henigan said. Quot it would be profoundly threatening to our constitutional system if people thought they had a right to Start shooting if they Felt government was becoming  to which Southwell responded Quot my Hope is that we can turn this country around without firing a shot. But if not i m afraid. At some Point the government will Cross the line and it will be neighbor coming to the Aid of neighbor. Just like at Concord and . Ray Southwell information officer for the Northern Michigan militia inspects uniforms and ammunition at the group s command Post. This summer  four counties authorized citizens to form militias. Commissioners  their resolutions were symbolic messages to Washington to get off gun owners backs. Northern Michigan s Quot first brigade Quot  in april and has inspired spinoff groups in 11 counties Southwell said. A a the first brigade meets once a month. Olson the commander owns a gun shop in Alanson. He s also pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church. During assemblies first brigade members 65, at. A recent meeting discuss ways to mount guerrilla style resistance if necessary. They have Quot Field exercises Quot on to Gritz right talks with supporters of White separatist Randy Weaver during a standoff Between Weaver and Federal officials in Idaho in 1992. The High profile role brought Gritz renewed National attention. Par Militarist establishes heaven for Christian patriots by Louis Sahagun los Angeles times High above the Clearwater River on a plateau overlooking this Northern Idaho Timber town a most unlikely Developer is Selling lots in twin communities named almost heaven and Shenandoah. In his latest incarnation former presidential candidate and sex Green Beret it. Col. James Quot to Quot Gritz is planning five and 10-acre lots surrounded by Hay farms and conifers for 1,000 Quot Christian patriots Quot a Many of whom he has trained in paramilitary tactics. Gritz who garnered 10,000 Idaho votes As a populist party presidential candidate in 1992, sees the plateau As a Haven for like minded people to flock to in preparation for the armageddon he says will come in 1996.  Rule in his Quot covenant communities Quot is that members Promise to defend their neighbors against any Quot predator  Quot if my predictions about chaotic times to come Are Correct Quot said the 55-year-old Gritz surveying the grounds that Are reachable Only by a Steep winding unpaved Road Quot there will be More and More people wanting to come up Here. Quot the Fri knows me and special forces know me Quot he added. Quot the last thing they want to do is tangle with me. Because i m trained in guerrilla  property is Selling fast. And residents in the nearby town of Kamiah Idaho and in the Nez Perce american Indian reservation that surrounds the envisioned communities Are nervous about the growing influence of White supremacists and paramilitary organizations that Are springing up throughout Idaho and across the Northwest. By sheer Force of personality this archetype for the film character rambo a a charismatic Tough talking decorated Veteran of Vietnam and special forces activity a in South America a is emerging As a Leader of people who strongly resent gun restrictions and government intervention in their lives. A Northwest civil rights group believes Ritz who is a beneficiary of trusts formed to buy and sell the property that some say will fetch $1.2 million in profits is establishing a regional Power base for tax protesters White separatists and anti semitic fanatics. Gritz who has two children who Are half chinese and is the godfather of an african american girl claims those Are Quot malicious untruths Quot that have Quot falsely and wrongly caused worry and concern Quot among his neighbors in this Community of 1,100 people. One thing is Clear some say Gritz s covenant communities have injected an eerie sense into this Remote Rocky Mountain town that the newcomers Are gearing up for a firefight with Federal authorities. Quot i think that sooner or later almost heaven will become another Waco Texas Quot said Rosemarie Thibault 56, general manager of Kamiah s Clearwater 12 Motel. Quot know what else scares me i think Gritz wants to Divide this Community Quot / a he already has. A struggle for dominance is taking place Between those who Are Here for the Tranquillity of a Small town with no Street lights movie Heaters or malls and Gritz s supporters a including some Kamiah residents a who see this As a Refuge from some future calamity. Locals talk about the letter Gritz sent to the Clearwater a 12 Motel warning that  his supporters May Boycott the inn because of critical comments Thibault made at a town Hall meeting earlier this year. They talk about Gritz supporters informing Idaho county sheriff Robert e.  Meinen that they plan to run a candidate against him in the 1996 election. And they worry that the newcomers May take jobs in this Rural Region with precious few of them. Kamiah has reason to be concerned said Jonathan Mozzochi director of the Seattle based coalition for a. Human dignity which monitors right Wing extremist groups throughout the Northwest. Quot Gritz s efforts to establish a Community of followers in Central Idaho who have been trained by him in paramilitary tactics Quot Mozzochi said Quot represents perhaps the most significant development in the White supremacist movement in recent  almost heaven he said May be Only the first of several covenant communities that Gritz former Arizona police officer Gerald Quot Jack Quot Mclamb and former Arizona state sen. Jerry Gillespie plan to establish in the Northwest. Mozzochi said they Are capitalizing on the siege mentality generated by the bloody standoff two years ago Between White separatist Randy Weaver and Federal officials at an Idaho Panhandle Cabin about 160 Miles North of Here. Gritz helped negotiate the surrender of Weaver who was acquitted last year of All but minor charges in connection with the August 1992 shootout that spurred an 11 Day siege and claimed the lives of a Deputy . Marshal Weaver s wife Vicki and his 14-year-old son Sammy. Despite his extremist views and prophecy of an inevitable holy War with Federal agents Weaver has became a hero in the eyes of some Back country idahoans. And As the. Man who got Weaver to surrender with cameras rolling Gritz emerged As an easily recognized Force among people upset by what they View As parallels Between the Idaho Case and the government s strategy during the april 1993 Branch Davidian standoff a at Waco in which More than 80 people Many of them. Children died. Gritz who currently lives in Sandy Valley nev., said he plans to Survey his future options after he mows into the log House he is building at almost Fleaven. A Quot this is where we re going to put our roots Down Quot he 1 1 said. Quot we plan to move in in about two years Quot beyond that he said Quot time will Tell and Only me and Jesus . 18 the stars and stripes wednesday october 19, 1994 the stars and stripes 19