Seventy-two Killed Resisting Gun Confiscation in Boston...

[FOsteology]

BOSTON 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 estimate that 72 were killed and more than 200 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 this month 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 over their weapons 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 over matched 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 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.



. . . And this, people, is how the American Revolution began.

April 20, 1775 Read this twice my friends. It's historical.

[FinsnFur]

Thats flat out scarey.  There's the wake up call.

[FOsteology]

It's an excellent historical example of why the government needs to understand that the people of this nation hold the power, not the government nor the administration currently in office. Funny how history has a habit of repeating itself even though fare warning has been given time and time again. Never ceases to amaze me that the valuable lessons history has to offer are ignored by those who want to force their views on others.

For the left leaner's thinking things were different back then and there is no way this could happen today, are you willing to stand behind that extremely naive assumption and accept the repercussions? The euphoric power hungry are so predictable because they make the same mistakes over and over again...

[JohnP]

I would like to think that the same would happen today but I fear not.  I think most "Americans" would moan and groan and then turn over their weapons.  Sorry to say but I don't we are made of the same stuff that our founding father were.  I truly believe very few would fight the good fight.   

[Hawks Feather]

Words this true can't be made up.

Jerry

[bambam]

I would like to think that the same would happen today but I fear not.  I think most "Americans" would moan and groan and then turn over their weapons.  Sorry to say but I don't we are made of the same stuff that our founding father were.  I truly believe very few would fight the good fight.
[/quote

You are exactly right John !!  Only 4 % of Americans in 1775 picked up their guns and had the balls to change history. But change it they did. I honestly believe that there  are enough pissed off people to raise that to at least 8 %, which means we just might change  history again. 

[Dan Carey]

Iron men and wooden ships. We now have iron ships and questionable men. I don't see myself just giving them up.