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) sub-
mitted 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 agen-
cies are democratic institutions, created by and for the
people of the United States;
Whereas the various agencies of the United States Govern-
ment derive their purpose and their character from the
expressed will of the American people, and may be al-
tered from time to time by peaceful means;
•HCON 2 IH
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 dol-
lars to American taxpayers;
Whereas various spokespersons for self-described militia and
paramilitary organizations and groups have repeatedly
denounced the legitimacy of the United States Govern-
ment;
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-Govern-
ment 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 con-
stitute a grave danger to American citizens and the insti-
tutions of American democracy, and threaten the very
•HCON 2 IH
foundation of freedom and democracy in America: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—
(1) armed conspiracies against the Government
of the United States or any of its agencies and per-
sonnel should be aggressively identified, dissolved,
and their perpetrators brought to justice by the fed-
eral authorities of law enforcement with the greatest
dispatch possible;
(2) the illegal possession of firearms, explosives,
or any substances or devices of destruction by any
individual or group should be prosecuted to the full
extent of all applicable laws by the Department of
Justice; and
(3) those legally possessing firearms, explosives,
or any substance or device of destruction, and in-
volved in any conspiracy to harm or destroy any
agency or property of the United States Govern-
ment, or any official of the United States Govern-
ment, or any person, should be promptly prosecuted
to the full extent of all applicable laws by the De-
partment of Justice, including those designed to pro-
tect the United States Government against treason
and subversion.
Æ