A disturbing flyer puportedly authored by the FBI's Phoenix anti-terrorism task force has been circulating in the conservative community. The flyer instructs the reader to report as a possible terrorist anyone who asks why they were stopped by police or anyone who dares to defend "the U.S. Constitution against federal [sic] government." See it for yourself: http://www.keepandbeararms.com/images/FBI-MCSOTerroristFlyer-Front.jpg http://www.keepandbeararms.com/images/FBI-MCSOTerroristFlyer-Back.jpg
So I gave the FBI field office a call. FBI spokesman Ed Hall confirmed the flyer was produced by the joint anti-terrorism task force in Phoenix. But he said it dealt with domestic terrorism: "That flyer was put out two years ago. Someone picked it up, and put it on the Internet like it was put out this week."
Hall admitted the section that said anyone spotting a defender of the U.S. Constitution "should call the Joint Terrorism Task Force" was perhaps a tiny bit ill-advised. "It could have been a bit better foundation worded saying you're not a right-wing extremist if you defend the Constitution... or if you ask a police officer why they're stopping you. There's some misinterpretation there."
He added: "Not that a person who defends the Constitution is a criminal or terrorist, or a person who askes you, 'Why did you stop me' may be a terrorist, but certain things, I don't want to use the word common, certain characteristics that these people who were legitimately investigated reflect it."
-Declan
---
>Source:
>Sierra Times
>http://www.SierraTimes.com/
>
>The FBI, Sheriff & County Attorney are Going After "Constitutional
Terrorists"
>
>by Angel Shamaya - KeepAndBearArms.com
>
>The Phoenix Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Maricopa County
>Sheriff's Office (Greater Phoenix, Arizona), and the Maricopa County
>Attorney are handing our flyers asking the recipients to help them
>fight domestic terrorism. Called the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the
>program was created, presumably, to help preserve the American
>way of life, right? - Nope.
>
>http://www.keepandbeararms.com/angel/articles/consterrorist.htm
>KeepandBearArms
>
>Public Servants Going After "Constitutional Terrorists"?
>by Angel Shamaya
>
>November 14, 2001
>
>KeepAndBearArms.com -- The Phoenix Federal Bureau of Investigation, the
>Maricopa County Sheriff's Office (Greater Phoenix, Arizona), and the
>Maricopa County Attorney are handing out flyers asking the recipients
to
>help them fight domestic terrorism. I received one of these flyers
this
>past weekend at the Arizona "Freedom in the 21st Century" gathering.
One
>member of the Sheriff's Posse Reserve in attendance said he'd seen the
>flyer before and that it is legitimate. [I will be getting
verification
>before this report goes live on our site, including recording phone
calls
>to these people.]
>
>Called the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the program was created,
>presumably, to help preserve the American way of life, right? In part,
>probably. However, it also looks like it's a disinformation campaign
to
>paint least a few groups of Real Americans as domestic terrorists.
Among
>other things, the dynamic trio is asking people:
>
>"If you encounter any of the following, Call the Joint Terrorism Task
Force":
>
>"defenders of the US Constitution against federal government and the
UN"
>
>[That describes many civil liberties groups and most gun rights and
>American Sovereignty groups in existence -- and, by extension, their
members.]
>
>"Groups of individuals engaging in para-military training"
>
>[Such as, perhaps, shooting your semi-automatic "assault weapon" with
some
>friends out in the desert?"]
>
>Also being sought are "Common Law Movement Proponents" who
>
>"Request authority for a stop"
>
>[That's illegal now?]
>
>"Make numerous references to the US Constitution"
>
>[That's illegal now?]
>
>"Attempt to 'police the police'"
>
>[That's illegal now?]
>
>And let's not forget the other potential "domestic terrorists" being
>sought. We really need to watch out for these people:
>
>"Lone Individuals"
>
>[Do you meet that description?]
>
>"Rebels"
>
>[Know any gun rights activist who doesn't have at least a touch of
rebel
>pumping through the old bloodstream?]
>
>Be sure and notice the following two things on the flyer, as well:
>
>1) There is NOT ONE MENTION of "Islamic Fundamentalists" anywhere.
>
>2) Defenders of the US Constitution and the common law from which it
grew
>are being classified on the same level as the bottom-feeding Skinheads,
>Nazis and the KKK.
>
>
>READ THE FLYER FOR YOURSELF
>
>The flyer is a tri-fold, so you'll have to turn your head sideways to
read
>one of the sections.
>
>Front Page
>http://www.keepandbeararms.com/images/FBI-MCSOTerroristFlyer-Front.jpg
>
>Back Page
>http://www.keepandbeararms.com/images/FBI-MCSOTerroristFlyer-Back.jpg
>
>NOTE: The far right side of the above "Front Page" is the actual front
of
>the tri-fold flyer.
>The far left side of the above "Back Page" -- the part that mentions
the
>'defenders of the
>US Constitution' -- is the inside flap... the first thing you see when
you
>open the flyer.
>
>CONTACT THE PEOPLE PUSHING THIS "PROGRAM"
>
>FBI Phoenix Office
>
>Website: http://phoenix.fbi.gov/
> Email: phoenix at fbi.gov
> Special Agent in Charge - Guadalupe Gonzalez
>
>FBI's "Civil Rights" Website:
> http://phoenix.fbi.gov/contact/fo/phnx/pxcivil.htm
>
>FBI's "Counterterrorism" Website:
> http://phoenix.fbi.gov/contact/fo/phnx/pxterr.htm
>
>FBI Arizona Regional Offices:
> http://phoenix.fbi.gov/contact/fo/phnx/pxterrit.htm
>
>The Maricopa Sheriff's Office
>
>Website: http://www.mcso.org/
>
>Feedback form for Sheriff Joe "Give 'em green lunch meat" Arpaio:
> Via Website: http://www.mcso.org/submenu.asp?file=public
> Via Email: complaints at mcso.maricopa.gov,
information at mcso.maricopa.gov
>
>Maricopa County Attorney
>
>Richard M. Romley, who shamelessly promotes himself on this
taxpayer-funded
>site as "America's Unsung Hero":
> http://www.maricopa.gov/attorney/MCAOhome.asp
>
>You can tell him what an American Hero you think he is at:
> http://www.maricopa.gov/feedback/feedback.asp
---
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