This Really Happened! Confiscation!

[Stumpman]

BOSTON

 

National guard units seeking to confiscate a cache of recently banned assault weapons were ambushed on April 19-th by elements of a paramilitary 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 overmatched 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

[Kidd Krystin]

Beautiful!

[Bart Solo]

Except for all the right wing talk, good piece. The fact is the revolutionaries were revolting against their government and that is not a very conservative thing to do.

[Dirty Dan Dawkins]

Except for all the right wing talk, good piece. The fact is the revolutionaries were revolting against their government and that is not a very conservative thing to do.

[Hashknife Cowboy]

I actually use this and similar events to stress points in my Constitutional Law class that I teach at our Commuity College. For whats its worth, more and more young people are getting it.

[Sixgun Shorty, SASS #35717 Life]

BOSTON

 

National guard units seeking to confiscate a cache of recently banned assault weapons were ambushed on April 19-th by elements of a paramilitary 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 overmatched 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

I seriously doubt the press of the day referred to extremists muskets as assault weapons!

Otherwise, right to the point.

[Cash Duckett]

Wow!! Talk about goose bumps!

Cash

[Stumpman]

The truly sad part of this article is that we are having similar conversations today. Our constitunal rights have been challenged before. However, the use of the word "Revolution" has not been used in over 238 years. The very thought that we are having some of the same conversations as our forefathers...........sends chills up my spine.

[Hacker, SASS #55963]

Thomas Gage, was not really a governor as we know it he was the British Army Commander in Chief of British forces in North America and the Military Governor of the province of Massachusetts bay.

The national guard as a term was not known at that time.

From the wikipedia page on National Guard.

 

 

The term "national guard" was first coined in the 1790s by the Marquis de Lafayette as a description of anti-royalist French Revolutionary citizen forces.

 

I think that the term National Guard in that pseudo article is being used incorrectly, the militia would be more like the national guard and the redcoats sent to confiscate flints, and ammo would be british regulars not NG.

The term Assault Rifle had not come into existence.

 

It is sad that todays and yesterdays kids don't really care too much about history.

[Stumpman]

I am sure I may have miss-speled some words as well. It's more about the issues we face today and a comparison to the sacrifices others have made before us. The 4th of July is just a few days away. I hope we all take a moment to truly understand the importance of the event.

[Gunner Gatlin, SASS 10274L]

 

Exactly..

 

GG ~

[Rooster Ron Wayne]

Looks like History is bound to repete its self !

[Hacker, SASS #55963]

Looks like History is bound to repete its self !

 

It wont be the british red coats.

Nor is it likely to be the US military.

Doubt it would include the NG.

It is more likely to be the para-gestapo police forces.

[Joe LaFives #5481]

Except for all the right wing talk, good piece. The fact is the revolutionaries were revolting against their government and that is not a very conservative thing to do.

The term Conservative and Liberal have changed their meaning over the past two centuries especially if one considers the European's use of the words. In this case one could say "people that favor limited government" vs people that think government is the answer to all their problems". In 1775 the former were liberals and now they are conservatives.

[Hacker, SASS #55963]

Of course the part of this thread that is most interesting is the title.

IN reality the redcoats never reached their target and NEVER confiscated anything on that days mission.

So the title is completely wrong.

[Conestoga Smith, SASS #18219]

Except for all the right wing talk, good piece. The fact is the revolutionaries were revolting against their government and that is not a very conservative thing to do.

Howdy- seems it needs to be pointed out that they stood up for themselves against an oppressive government. I my book, this is the MOST consevative action , anywhere!