FBI Raids in the Land of My Youth

Looks idyllic doesn't it?  The picture is from BlissfieldMichigan.gov.  I lived in the village of Blissfield until I was twelve years old.  I haven't been back since I was a teenager but I have wonderful memories of the Hathaway House and Friday nights spent at the Riga Tavern.  I remember the Towne Pump and the hardware store Mr. Ed owned.  During the summer Mr. Ed would go around the neighborhood blowing his horn.  We kids would jump in the bed of his pickup and he would take us all to the Tasty Freeze for ice cream.  We played in the cornfields off Monroe Street and hung out at the Raisin River.  A kid could ride their bike as far as their legs would pump.  Sundays were for church and the VFW and American Legion were the center of the town's social life.  It was a great place to be a kid.    Blissfield is in Lenawee County.  My heart darn near stopped when I saw this at Memeorandum:

FBI raids in Washtenaw, Lenawee counties tied to Michigan militia group

and

Massive Federal Raid in Lenawee County

About all I've learned is that people have been arrested but the FBI isn't saying who has been arrested or what the charges are.  From Atlas Shrugs:

Ann Arbor.com

3/28/10

By Lee Higgins
The FBI conducted raids Saturday night in Washtenaw County and Lenawee County in an investigation involving members of Hutaree, a Christian-oriented militia group based in Lenawee County, AnnArbor.com has learned.

The nature of those raids has not been made public. FBI Special Agent Jason Pack, who is based in Washington, D.C., said he did not know how many people were taken into custody. Gina Balaya, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit, could not be reached for comment today.

“I can confirm that there is ongoing law enforcement activity in the Ann Arbor general area,” Pack said in a written statement. “Since the federal warrants are under court ordered seal, legally we cannot provide further comment at this time.”

Local Michigan militia member Jimmy Schiel said he was told five people were arrested – including one known member of Hutaree. Schiel said the five were reportedly arrested during a raid at a service in the Ann Arbor area for a Hutaree member who died recently. Schiel was told about eight Hutaree members were present. Schiel, who said he was invited but did not attend, spoke to a Hutaree member who was at the service, he said.

It has been reported in various outlets that the raids are not terrorism related and the groups are of no danger to the public, so what's the deal?  I seem to remember reading somewhere that a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. Without more information it is impossible to know why these people have been arrested but one would hope that it is unrelated to their right to form a militia or bear arms. 

I had never heard of the Hutaree before today so I went to their website to get a feel for who they are:

HUTAREE; Christian Warrior

As christians we all are a part of the Souls of the Body of Christ, the one true church of Christ. Not any specific man made building or any man controlled organization. This is the belief of the Hutaree soldier, as should the belief of all followers in Christ be.

We believe that one day, as prophecy says, there will be an Anti-Christ. All christians must know this and prepare, just as Christ commanded. Luke 22:35-37, And He said to them, “When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” 36, Then he said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one. 37, “For I say to you that this which is written must be accomplished in me: ‘And He was numbered with transgressors,’ For the things concerning Me have an end.” This clearly states the reason for the training and preparation of the Hutaree.

Jesus wanted us to be ready to defend ourselves using the sword and stay alive using equipment. The only thing on earth to save the testimony and those who follow it, are the members of the testimony, til the return of Christ in the clouds. We, the Hutaree, are prepared to defend all those who belong to Christ and save those who aren’t. We will still spread the word, and fight to keep it, up to the time of the great coming.

I don't find anything in that particularly alarming or threatening.  There are militias throughout the United States and the truth is despite the dire warnings of the Southern Poverty Law Center they go about their business without bringing harm to anyone.  I am trying to not jump to conclusions as far as what the government's motives might be in carrying out these raids but I will say some in our government seem quite determined to paint conservatives and Christians as dangerous radicals. 

I hope that once the details come out that we will find that the raids were justified.  Right now, something about this just doesn't feel right.

More at:

Riehl World View
The Jawa Report
Classical Values