From another forum I frequent. Old news (April date) but still worth mention:

Scores Killed, Hundreds Injured As Para-Military Extremists Riot.

BOSTON, April 20 - National Guard units seeking to confiscate a cache of recently banned assault weapons were ambushed on April 19th by elements of a para-military extremist faction. Military and law enforcement sources estimated that 72 were killed and more than 20 injured before government forces were compelled to withdraw.

Speaking after the clash, Massachusetts Governor Thomas Gage declared that the extremist faction, which was made up of local citizens, has links to the radical right-wing tax protest movement. Gage blamed the extremists for recent incidents of vandalism directed against internal revenue offices.

The governor, who described the group's organizers as "criminals," issued an executive order authorizing the summary arrest of any individual who has interfered with the government's efforts to secure law and order.

The military raid on the extremist arsenal followed wide-spread refusal by the local citizenry to turn over recently outlawed assault weapons. Gage issued a ban on military-style assault weapons and ammunition earlier in the week. This decision followed a meeting in early April between government and military leaders at which the governor authorized the forcible confiscation of illegal arms. One government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, pointed out that "none of these people would have been killed had the extremists obeyed the law and turned their weapons over voluntarily."

"Government troops initially succeeded in confiscating a large supply of outlawed weapons and ammunition. However, troops attempting to seize arms and ammunition in Lexington met with resistance from heavily-armed extremists who had been tipped off regarding the government's plans.

During a tense standoff in Lexington's town park, National Guard Colonel Francis Smith, commander of the government operation, ordered the armed group to surrender and return to their homes. The impasse was broken by a single shot, which was reportedly fired by one of the right-wing extremists. Eight civilians were killed in the ensuing exchange.

Ironically, the local citizenry blamed government forces rather than the extremists for the civilian deaths. Before order could be restored, armed citizens from surrounding areas had descended upon the guard units. Colonel Smith, finding his forces overmatched by the armed mob, ordered a retreat.

Governor Gage has called upon citizens to support the state/national joint task force in its effort to restore law and order. The governor has also demanded the surrender of those responsible for planning and leading the attack against the government troops. Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and John Hancock, who have been identified as "ringleaders" of the extremist faction, remain at large.

Happy 4th of July to everyone in the US of A

Very Good Randy! At first I thought it was something to do with the Red Sox losing to the Tampa Bay Rays last night. :-D

I thought we agreed that politics didn't belong on this web site. Peter D.

wow...hmm. wonder who I'd blame? yeah, happy Independence Day!

The far right is as "nutty" as the far left. just my 2c

Politics? How about inaccurate (spoof) history lesson.

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This commentary that I have 'liberated' from another website's posting, is an attempt to use 'contemporary' terms and views to "report" the 1775 Battle of Lexington and Concord and the "shot heard round the world" between the colonists and the British that began the United States.

I believe it was the author's intent to employ "satire" and takes some poetic license in its reporting style, but does want us to stop and think about the spirit and events leading up to the USA Constitution and Bill of Rights in context with recent 2nd Amendment confirming judicial rulings. MANY, MANY people of late have proudly used their 1st Amendment rights to try to deny the ones granted by the 2nd. Forgetting that without #2 there can be no #1 or any of the other 8 for that matter. Rather ironic in the opinion of some of us.

Our freedoms have always been paid for by the actions of those who came before us. Some folks tend to forget that little detail. As a combat veteram myself (Vietnam '72) at this time of year I am especially prone to remembrances I reckon.