IV

105TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 2

Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the threat to the security

of American citizens and the United States Government posed by armed

militia and other paramilitary groups and organizations.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JANUARY 7, 1997

Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas (for herself, Mr. WYNN, Mrs. MEEK of Florida,

Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. CLAY, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr.

UNDERWOOD, Mr. CONYERS, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. LEWIS of Georgia, Mrs.

LOWEY, Ms. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON of Texas, and Mr. OWENS) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on the Judiciary

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the threat

to the security of American citizens and the United

States Government posed by armed militia and other

paramilitary groups and organizations.

Whereas the Government of the United States and its agencies are democratic institutions, created by and for the

people of the United States;

Whereas the various agencies of the United States Government derive their purpose and their character from the

expressed will of the American people, and may be altered from time to time by peaceful means;
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Whereas 168 American men, women and children were killed

in the terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal

Building in April 1995;

Whereas Federal law enforcement officials were threatened

and held at bay for 81 days in a Montana town by a

group of so-called ‘‘Freemen’’ while trying to exercise

their duty to uphold the law, at a cost of millions of dollars to American taxpayers;

Whereas various spokespersons for self-described militia and

paramilitary organizations and groups have repeatedly

denounced the legitimacy of the United States Government;

Whereas several members of an Arizona militia group were

recently arrested in possession of heavy armaments,

deadly bombs and explosive devices, and charged with

conspiring to use explosives to destroy buildings housing

Federal agencies;

Whereas experts have estimated that extremist anti-Government militia groups and organizations in the United

States may number as many as 800, existing in more

than 40 States;

Whereas the democratic institutions of the United States and

the American people are protected from both foreign and

domestic enemies by a well trained military and multiple

layers of legitimate State and local police organizations;

and

Whereas the actions of some militia and paramilitary groups

and organizations specifically promoting violence constitute a grave danger to American citizens and the institutions of American democracy, and threaten the very
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foundation of freedom and democracy in America: Now,

therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—

3 (1) armed conspiracies against the Government

4 of the United States or any of its agencies and per5 sonnel should be aggressively identified, dissolved,

6 and their perpetrators brought to justice by the fed7 eral authorities of law enforcement with the greatest

8 dispatch possible;

9 (2) the illegal possession of firearms, explosives,

10 or any substances or devices of destruction by any

11 individual or group should be prosecuted to the full

12 extent of all applicable laws by the Department of

13 Justice; and

14 (3) those legally possessing firearms, explosives,

15 or any substance or device of destruction, and in16 volved in any conspiracy to harm or destroy any

17 agency or property of the United States Govern18 ment, or any official of the United States Govern19 ment, or any person, should be promptly prosecuted

20 to the full extent of all applicable laws by the De21 partment of Justice, including those designed to pro22 tect the United States Government against treason

23 and subversion.

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