Sympathy for Militias’ Views

The romance some Republican conservatives have expressed for right-wing paramilitary groups or their aims, as reported in “Some Republicans Showing Sympathy for Militias’ Views” (news analysis, May 15), is truly obscene. The gun-toting, shock-troop wanna-bes and their apocalyptic-sounding mouthpieces are not the rugged individualists who in their nonconformity, inventiveness and industry built so much of what is good about America. Rather, these radical rightists are the frustrated failures of our republic who project their insecurities and anger onto our democratically elected officials, our constitutionally appointed judges and the peace officers sworn to protect us all from the dark and violent nether world of conspiracies and terror in which the paramilitaries dream of obtaining the power they could not win in civilized society. Paramilitary groups are second-raters with a hateful message and plenty of firepower--a combination which history teaches us is fraught with peril for democracy and the rule of law.

By contrast, the overwhelming majority of our federal law enforcement officers are persons of discipline, character and fairness, who have in recent history helped integrate our public schools, protect the civil rights of racial and religious minorities, bust organized crime and protect our common wildlife and wilderness heritage. Moreover, their excesses are generally exposed by the bright lights of a free press, an independent judiciary and their own colleagues in law enforcement.

BRUCE J. EINHORN

Agoura Hills

The article reminded me of the viewpoints of men enrolled in domestic violence prevention programs, which I facilitate. In these groups, most men want sympathy for their out-of-control violence toward a provoking partner. Maybe for some militias and Republicans, our government symbolizes a provoking partner who deserves to be intimidated. I acknowledge their feelings, but I cannot provide sympathy for people who abuse others. Let us not support those who say living with disagreement justifies violence.

IM JUNG KWUON

Northridge

That the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has made mistakes in the past is undeniable, but so have the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency and almost every other federal group involved in law enforcement. Should this be a condemnation of all members of each group? The half-dozen or so unfortunate examples given in National Rifle Assn. President Tom Washington’s letter (advertisement, May 15) are hardly an indictment of all BATF agents any more than it is when the same sort of thing happens at the local or state level by law enforcement agents.

The NRA in the past has often criticized anti-gun legislation on the grounds that there are already enough anti-gun laws on the books, all that is needed is enforcement. Yet when federal agencies try to enforce these very laws, the NRA objects!

PAUL O. RICCI

Cypress

Re “Clinton Denounces NRA Over Fund-Raising Letter,” May 16: President Clinton denounced the NRA and said they should be ashamed for describing federal agents as “jackbooted government thugs.” The NRA was primarily referring to the BATF.

Liberal Democratic Rep. John Dingell said on the floor of the House of Representatives that BATF agents are not to be trusted and that they were “a jackbooted group of fascists.” These words are in the Congressional Record for Feb. 8.

I am a deputy sheriff and a proud NRA member. The BATF has conducted numerous raids on law-abiding citizens wherein people were terrorized and had their property vandalized. I believe that the BATF is out of control and should be abolished.

CHRIS KNOX

Diamond Bar

In the midst of all the pain left by the Oklahoma explosion, some good would be achieved if we could learn something about ourselves. The involvement of militia extremists in the bombing brings to mind an oft-quoted phrase of the Reagan years: “One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter.”

I’m thinking in particular of the Nicaraguan Contras’ “secret war” on the civilian population of that country. Perverse acts of violence such as this bombing can show us more clearly the human face behind the “black ops” and “covert activities” unleashed in “low-intensity” conflicts by cowardly techno-warriors for the “pacification” of faraway, anonymous communities. Sisters, daddies, friends, kids and grandparents, students and newlyweds, cousins, colleagues and moms, all either killed or left grieving. Next time a gung-ho bunch of angry men asks for our tax dollars to train, arm and counsel mercenary militias, let’s pause for a second and think of the Oklahoma Cities we’re buying. Terrorists, “freedom fighters,” killers all.

IGNACIO VALERO

Los Angeles