Straight dope on the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps

[Gary_T]

Supporters portray them as benign. Detractors label them as vigilantes. I’m having trouble finding facts to get a clear picture.

Here in Kansas City we have a controversy over a Parks Board member who is a member of the MCDC. Most of the discussion brings much heat but little light to the issue. Much of what I’ve found online is so blatantly partisan that it’s laughable.

The official policy of MCDC indicates that they will watch for and observe illegal immigration and report to appropriate legal authorities, but not engage in confrontation or take physical action against anyone. Sounds reasonable enough.

In practice, it appears that some participants in MCDC activities (demonstrations and/or border watching), who may or may not be actual members of the organization, belong to various right-wing separatist or hate groups. Sounds scary.

In particular, I’m curious if there is any evidence of vigilantism or other illegal activity by the group or its members.

[Gary_T]

I’m going to bump this for the evening crowd, and clarify that I’m specifically interested in the MCDC (including chapters and members) and not in the many other groups with the word Minuteman/Minutemen in their names.

[LiveOnAPlane]

I’m sorry, Gary T, I haven’t found any actualy evidence of such, but you might want to take a look at this article, which does maybe sound a little biased, but even so…

“It should be legal to kill illegals,” said Carl, a 69-year old retired Special Forces veteran who fought in Vietnam and now lives out West. “Just shoot 'em on sight. That’s my immigration policy recommendation. You break into my country, you die.”

Carl was armed with a revolver chambered to fire shotgun shells. He wore this hand cannon in a holster below a shirt that howled “American bad asses” in red, white and blue. The other vigilantes assigned to Station Two included a pair of self-professed members of the National Alliance, a violent neo-Nazi organization. These men, who gave their names only as Johnny and Michael, were outfitted in full-body camouflage and strapped with semi-automatic pistols.

…A revolver chambered for shotgun shells? I dunno, but I hope this may be some kind of a starting point for you, given the lack of responses so far.

Best wishes,
LOAP

[smiling_bandit]

@LiveOnAPlane

I dunno, but I hope this may be some kind of a starting point for you, given the lack of responses so far.

Y’know, using an example of a murderous (or at least, publicly loudmouthed) Neo-Nazi flashing an illegal firearm is probably not the best example of a group he’s not part of, which publicly disavows violence against illegal immigrants.

[Cluricaun]

@smiling bandit

illegal firearm

This just means that they didn’t have revolvers like the first guy did. Semi-autos are no more illegal than any other handgun.

[Airman_Doors_USAF]

@smiling bandit

Y’know, using an example of a murderous (or at least, publicly loudmouthed) Neo-Nazi flashing an illegal firearm is probably not the best example of a group he’s not part of, which publicly disavows violence against illegal immigrants.

For the record, rounds that fire shot out of a handgun are not illegal.

I agree with the rest, however. That guy is out there.

[Little_Nemo]

My guess is that the Minutemen groups aren’t engaging in any illegal activies. But they probably do attract some people who are looking to engage in some after hours illegal activities and network with other people of similar mindsets.