We don’t learn much about this group’s intentions from the article, just that they have been raided:
Simultaneous raids carried out in four Alabama counties Thursday turned up truckloads of explosives and weapons, including 130 grenades, an improvised rocket launcher and 2,500 rounds of ammunition belonging to the small, but mightily armed, Alabama Free Militia. Six alleged members of the Free Militia also were arrested by federal authorities and are being held without bond. Investigators said the DeKalb County-based group had not made any specific threats or devised any plots, but was targeted for swift dismantling because of its heavy firepower. The militia, which called itself the Naval Militia at one point, had enough armament to outfit a small army.
It would be nice if the article told us just a little more. I’d like to know why these people thought they needed 130 grenades, an improvised rocket launcher and 2,500 rounds of ammunition. I have about 1,000 rounds of ammunition at my house, but I’m not being arrested. Clearly, having hand grenades and a rocket launcher would put me in a different category in the eyes of the law.
Of course, intent is really what matters here. These people must have had some sort of intent. I wonder what it was. What did the Alabama Free Militia intend?
We know from many publicized statements what groups like al-Qaeda intend. The Alabama Free Militia has a lawyer, and he says the raids are "much ado about nothing."
Scott Boudreaux said that the cache of ammunition that was confiscated — 2,500 rounds — was not that large, and the scores of homemade hand grenades that agents seized could be made with powder from fireworks and components readily available in military surplus stores. Even prosecutors say the group had no intended target and was simply stockpiling munitions, said Boudreaux, who plans to meet this weekend with his client, Raymond Kirk Dillard, 46, of Collinsville, a supposed major in the paramilitary group.
The group apparently used fireworks to make their grenades. I guess that’s a good reason to hold them without bond. We don’t want our citizens stockpiling fireworks without intent, after all.
Sounds like these guys had a copy of The Anarchist Cookbook in their possession and maybe some dreams of glory.
Plenty of fruits and nuts to go around folks. We harvest them all the time for your pleasure.