# Christian Militias. Just what we need... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 29, 2010, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239 "2010-03-29T19:05:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/21 "2010-03-29T21:55:26Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Hard to imagine Christian militiamen would consciously mimic the style of radical islamic groups, so I guess violent religous nuts the world over just kinda dig the same aesthetics. “So how’s that whole family valuesy-right to lifey thing workin’ out for ya?” ---
**Author:** ![pravnik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8edcca/32.png) [@pravnik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pravnik)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/22 "2010-03-29T21:59:15Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > I’d be curius what the answer to this question actually is. U.S. Code Title 18 § 2384. Seditious conspiracy If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both. In addition to that they’re facing a more serious charge, though: U.S. Code Title 18 § 2332a, attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. That could carry a sentence of up to life in federal prison. ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/23 "2010-03-29T22:08:00Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > Hey, they can’t be all bad. They’re into [Creedence](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutaree). So was Dan Aykroyd, right before he ate Albert Brooks’s face. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/24 "2010-03-29T22:08:36Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > “So how’s that whole family valuesy-right to lifey thing workin’ out for ya?” Heh heh, cool reference. Since this hutaree group was plotting to kill the police, there’s your respect for law and order. Since they were also plotting to attack at this policeman’s funeral - where taking a wild ass guess - the bereaved family would be (including any children), there’s the family values and respect for life. But they aren’t terrorists, they are good christian patriots :rolleyes: Throw the book at them, and put them away forever. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/25 "2010-03-29T22:14:15Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > So was Dan Aykroyd, right before he ate Albert Brooks’s face. Man, I LOVE this song! ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/26 "2010-03-29T22:15:13Z")
They kinda make the Phelpses look like a buncha pussies, wot? ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/27 "2010-03-29T22:22:16Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Presumably these guys are US citizens, captured on US soil. And by the FBI, at that. We’ve tortured Americans too; there was a recent news story about the torture of American whistleblowers. Not that I expect that right wing, white Christian fanatics will be treated with anything but kid gloves. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/28 "2010-03-29T22:41:14Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Presumably these guys are US citizens, captured on US soil. And by the FBI, at that. So was Jose Padilla. I think it’s imperative that we take these militia dudes, transfer them to military custody, deny them access to attorneys, refuse them habeas corpus rights, and torture them. Anyone who disagrees with me is obviously a traitor. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/29 "2010-03-29T22:49:11Z")
> [@BrightNShiny](#): > > So was Jose Padilla. Well, thats sort of the point. The courts told the gov’t they couldn’t hold Padilla as an “double secret combatant” or whatever the term was. So presumably the current crop of conspirators are protected by the same decision. Plus the current gov’t is less nuts then the one that tried to black-bag Padilla. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/30 "2010-03-29T22:50:55Z")
> [@BrightNShiny](#): > > So was Jose Padilla. > > I think it’s imperative that we take these militia dudes, transfer them to military custody, deny them access to attorneys, refuse them habeas corpus rights, and torture them. Anyone who disagrees with me is obviously a traitor. It’s either funny or sad, but that is what my initial instinct tells me we should do. But if we do, what do they become? They become Martyrs To The Cause. That’s the last thing we want. It should be a public civilian court, with news, cameras, reporters, as much openness and transparency as we can muster. And then let the prosecutor do his thing. Let all the country know what sort of people (and I use the term loosely) they really are. And then, if convicted, don’t execute or rendition them, just sentence them to several life sentences, to be served consecutively, with no chance of parole. Ever. But no death penalty because then they become martyrs. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/31 "2010-03-29T22:54:51Z")
They didn’t actually kill anybody, for all we know, they are just a bunch of wanking wanabees. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/32 "2010-03-29T23:11:26Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Well, thats sort of the point. The courts told the gov’t they couldn’t hold Padilla as an “double secret combatant” or whatever the term was. So presumably the current crop of conspirators are protected by the same decision. Not exactly. The courts rulings on Padilla aren’t that clear. You can check out his [wik on Padilla](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_Padilla_%28prisoner%29#U.S._Supreme_Court) for more info. But, there are a number of people who claim that the 2006 Military Commissions Act gives the executive the power to indefinitely detain US citizens. So, I think this would make a good test case. We should ship these militia dudes off to a military brig. > [@](#): > > Plus the current gov’t is less nuts then the one that tried to black-bag Padilla. If Obama doesn’t ship these militia dudes off to military detention and torture, that’s because he’s obviously an Islamo-Kenyan who wants to destroy the US. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/33 "2010-03-29T23:20:25Z")
I don’t know if it was a coincidence or not, but there was a loud ‘boom’ last night that rattled the windows and sent people into the street to see what happened. I just heard on the news that it was a large [pipe bomb](http://www.katu.com/news/89441702.html) that went off in the park right across the Willamette River from us. :eek::eek::eek: ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/34 "2010-03-29T23:25:48Z")
" I am come not to bring peace, but a lightweight, 5.56 mm, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed assault rifle, with a rotating bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation." ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/35 "2010-03-29T23:30:09Z")
[Hutaree’s website](http://hutaree.com/) is still up, for the moment. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/36 "2010-03-29T23:31:56Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > We’ve tortured Americans too; there was a recent news story about the torture of American whistleblowers. Not that I expect that right wing, white Christian fanatics will be treated with anything but kid gloves. Ah, c’mon, these guys are going to be prosecuted to the fullest extent. Sometimes your act really does get old, y’know? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/37 "2010-03-29T23:36:55Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Hard to imagine Christian militiamen would consciously mimic the style of radical islamic groups, so I guess violent religous nuts the world over just kinda dig the same aesthetics. I believe there’s a manual with separate sections on Appearing Menacing, and Camo: buff, beige or biscuit best with olive? You decide! It’s free if you’re a member of the Twisted Worldview Polemic Society (TWIPS for short), but $19.95 an issue if not. They take Visa and MC, no checks. 😛 On a more serious note: this is messed up. It’s too bad they most likely won’t get to Gitmo, but regular prison seems good, too… ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/38 "2010-03-29T23:40:38Z")
> [@](#): > > …Sometimes your act really does get old, y’know? I like to stand next to him in the photos so I can see what I would look like as a centrist. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/39 "2010-03-30T00:05:25Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > I like to stand next to him in the photos so I can see what I would look like as a centrist. Ha. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239/40 "2010-03-30T00:18:30Z")
> [@gravitycrash](#): > > Man, I wish aliens would show up tomorrow and announce to the world: “Look you morons, there is no God, knock it the fuck off.” I am reminded of the Brewster Rockit cartoon where Agent X shows Brewster some ancient-astronaut drawings: 1. Alien lands among primitive humans and is worshipped as a god. 2. Alien attempts to explain that he is not a god but simply a traveler from another place. 3. Primitive humans pelt alien with stones for not believing in their god. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-militias-just-what-we-need/534239.md?page=3)