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Are You an “Extremist” Patriot?

There are those who say that believing in the Constitution, that standing up for gun rights and liberty, or being a self-described Patriot makes you an extremist. Those like the left leaning civil rights organization the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). 

In a recently released report titled The Year in Hate and Extremism, the SPLC claims that extremist Patriot groups are at an all-time high, “sparked by the election of America’s first black president.” The graph below is from the report, and shows the number of Patriot and Militia groups in the United States.

So how do they determine what a Patriot group is? The SPLC’s definition is:

Generally, Patriot groups define themselves as opposed to the “New World Order,” engage in groundless conspiracy theorizing, or advocate or adhere to extreme antigovernment doctrines. Antigovernment groups do not necessarily advocate or engage in violence or other criminal activities, though some have. Many warn of impending government violence or the need to prepare for a coming revolution. Many antigovernment groups are not racist.

So by their own admission, many of the groups they have labeled “extreme” are nonviolent, non-racist groups of people who do not advocate any criminal activity. But because they believe that the government should follow the Constitution, they are labeled “extreme”. Got it.

The report is worded in a somewhat confusing and contradictory manner. For example, they state that extremist Patriot groups are at an all-time high sparked by the election of President Obama, the first black President, thereby insinuating that racism is a root cause. Then they say that many of these groups are not racist. So which is it?

Why This Matters

My biggest problem with this report is the way that Patriots (those who love their country), strict Constitutionalists like Senator Rand Paul, and people who are pro-Second Amendment are lumped in with other true extremist groups. This clearly is a guilt by association tactic, and I find it despicable.

Personally, I don’t take the SPLC or their report very seriously. The problem is that there are those that do.

On March 5, SPLC President J. Richard Cohen wrote a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano warning about the potential for violent retaliation from domestic terrorists. In that report you will read mention of James Yeager (though not by name), who recently made the news for all the wrong reasons by making a YouTube video threatening to “start killing people” if further gun control was enacted. James has since taken the video down and apologized for letting his temper get the better of him, but that ship has unfortunately sailed.

The point is that like it or not, we’re all being lumped into the same category, and that’s a very bad thing. When you engage in debates, whether in person or over the internet, don’t make threats. Remain calm. Use facts and logic, not emotion and insults, as hard as that is sometimes (believe me I know).

And unfortunately, we’re going to have to keep an eye on this issue.

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22 Responses to Are You an “Extremist” Patriot?

  1. Eric Lopez March 11, 2013 at 9:02 am #

    Thanks, good post!

  2. Jake March 11, 2013 at 9:03 am #

    James Yeager strikes again…I suppose we can’t blame this all on him, but what an idiot that guy is.

    Thanks for bringing this to our attention Brandon.

    • Sol March 11, 2013 at 1:38 pm #

      i think you’re being a bit hard on James. he just said in the public what many were saying around the camp fire. when i heard it i laughed because i knew that he was as frustrated as everyone else that was fired up by the news that was coming at us like a hurricane. James F’ed Up apologized and isn’t allowed to move on when others have done MUCH worse and are forgiven and then treated like the second coming of Christ.

      but to the issue at hand. this should concern everyone. technically we can all be labeled as threats to national security without notification and placed on a “can not buy list” when it comes to firearms and no fly lists when it comes to travel.

      why Congress isn’t investigating how seriously the DOJ is taking this is beyond me.

      • Jake March 11, 2013 at 1:42 pm #

        Agreed, but let’s be fair. The guy DID then post that stupidity to YouTube, and then posted the video on Facebook.

  3. Mike March 11, 2013 at 9:31 am #

    These liberal tactics are becoming more and more despicable and difficult to combat. This is one of the oldest tricks. Guilt by association, and if you’re not associated, just imply association. Just like they did in 2008 and 2012 by claiming that if you where in the Tea Party, you’re racist. Now if you believe in the constitution, you’re the next Oklama City bomber waiting to happen.

    It’s double speak, and it’s incredible effective on the average american. Like labeling things “common sense solutions”. Well who the frack wouldn’t be for common sense solutions, but you can’t just call something that isn’t common sense, common sense.

    Using these terms are akin to calling people “deniers”. This automatically makes most think of the crazy’s who don’t believe in the holocaust, which is why it’s often used agains those who refuse to buy hook line and sinker everything Al Gore preaches.

    This latest report is just another toll to program the unwitting against our postion.

  4. What Me Worry? March 11, 2013 at 10:48 am #

    George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson all would fit the SPLC’s definition of Extremist Patriot, thankfully……

  5. chris March 11, 2013 at 10:55 am #

    Is it wrong to believe in habeus corpus? The over reach of this Obama administration and George W. Bush’s administration is obscene.

  6. rick March 11, 2013 at 11:35 am #

    “Patriot groups are at an all-time high sparked by the election of President Obama, the first black President, thereby insinuating that racism is a root”

    they insinuate its a racial issue to try and villainize the groups, i dont think its a racial issue its all of the liberal policies that keep getting pushed threw that take away our rights a little at a time till we have nothing execpt what the democrats (British) say we can have, its just like in the 1700’s when the people had no choice but to revolt and draft the constitution in the first place. They were labeled extremists also.

  7. Mark M. March 11, 2013 at 11:51 am #

    I would argue that the SPLC is not “left-leaning” but is full-out laying comfortably on the ground left, and has been since its inception. They have also enjoyed a direct voice into the government, supplying federal agencies with their list of hate groups, terrorist groups, and militant groups – all of which are cherry picked to include anything right-of-center. Veterans, NRA members, and anyone with a “I love Rush”, Libertarian, Anti-Obama or 2nd Ammendment bumper sticker was also on the list they supplied to Homeland Defense-connected agencies, even when Bush was in office.

    Where is their counterpart on the Right, or even a more neutral version in the Center to balance them, or how can their exclusive ear to the government be removed?

  8. Rob March 11, 2013 at 12:05 pm #

    If you look at the chart, the increases in activity are or were when the Constitution was threatened or violated! Unlike our government, patriots support and defend the Constitution!

  9. ALISHA March 11, 2013 at 12:13 pm #

    Thank you for this post. Every time I come across a discussion in which I can’t help myself but to participate, I see the rudeness, name-calling, and at times complete disrespect. While I understand it is hard to stay calm, but Internet discussions allow us to cool off BEFORE we reply, maybe we should consider that more often. I also try to explain to people who are arguing similar points that calling the ‘other side’ “stupid,” “idiots,” “liberals,” and other profanities, that this will NOT help our cause. If ‘the other side’ would like to stoop down to such levels! We can only prove our point if we practice what we preach!

  10. T Ozzy Czernik March 11, 2013 at 12:16 pm #

    THE SPLC. . .”IS” A REAL LOVE TERRORIST GROUP!

    • T Ozzy Czernik March 11, 2013 at 12:20 pm #

      IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A REAL L I V E TERRORIST GROUP !

  11. Steve March 11, 2013 at 1:36 pm #

    Well, if James Yeager is an idiot than throw me in with him and his lot, not that that I am going out and start laying hate, but the fact that the man said what others had only been thinking.

    I have known James for more then a few years and this man has done a lot for LEO’s, Military and gun owners, from free training to a place to stay to financial help for families on hard times.

    Before you go judging the man for making a video while being pissed off think about how many times you yourselves have run off at the mouth while sitting around a burn barrel or threatned to beat someones ass that cut you off in traffic, fact is his video posting put a face to the anger that the American people are feeling and put the ones that would attempt to take your weapons on notice that there are very serious people who won’t stand for it.

    Judging from the way people in power and their supporters (SPLC is a great example) seem to think that they can do what they want when they want without reguard to the laws of the land, well perhaps they needed a reminder that men like James built this country.

    • Jake March 11, 2013 at 1:45 pm #

      Not saying he’s not a good guy, I’m saying he was an idiot for doing what he did. It goes beyond saying something out of anger that you don’t really mean when you video tape it, do whatever editing you’re going to do (at minimum put the beginning in and cut the ending), upload it (which takes for damn ever b/c YouTube sucks), then take the link of the video and post it on Facebook.

      Note quite the same as getting pissed off and saying something stupid.

      • Steve March 11, 2013 at 2:25 pm #

        Good intention/bad judgement it happens to the best of us.

        He took it down shortly after it had been posted, unfort the liberal media picked it up and used it as a tool in their agenda war chest, and here we are months later still allowing them to use it.

        In reality we should use it as a fire and forget weapon, for good or bad the powers that be got the message that not every one will drop their weapons without a fight and that put them on notice.

        Like a name less person from CAG said it would be the “quickest civil war ever fought”
        and I am sure he is on the SPLC extremist list as you and I are.

    • Steve March 11, 2013 at 1:50 pm #

      Now about the SPLC.

      The SPLC is nothing more then a mouth piece for the liberal agenda, if you don’t agree with them or you publicly denounce them you are listed as a racist, while ignoring the New Black Panthers and others or a right wing nut job.

      Their tatics have never changed they have been this way from the start and as long as they are making money and getting rich while doing it I don’t suspet they will change.

      It is important to note that the SPLC monitors web sites like this one Get off the X, AR15.com, Professional Soldiers and other so chances are you are already on their list of “Extremist” if you have been or are a member of those websites and they find out, in that case yes we are all “Extremist”, welcome to the party .

      George Orwell would be proud.

  12. Ben March 11, 2013 at 6:14 pm #

    You know what? Every time I read this kind of BULLSHIT I become a little more extremist. Maybe we should all get a little more extremist and do some thing about these assholes. I am sick to death of these scumbags pointing their boney little figures at me and saying that because I am a Veteran, White and believe in the ideals of the United States of America’s Constitution that I am some kind of Racist Homophobic Whack Job when all I want is to be left alone to live my life in PEACE.

    So if they want to come and take my rights then be prepared because I am ready and I am all out of bubblegum.

  13. JoshinGA March 11, 2013 at 9:15 pm #

    The SPLC realized that all of their hate groups were drying up and they were about to be out of a job…so they create some new hate groups. Instant job security.

    • Steve March 12, 2013 at 9:43 am #

      That Amigo I agree with 1000%

      When the SPLC ignores the New Blak Panthers putting a bounty on George Zimmermans head they lost what ever little respect they still had.

      As far as I am concerned the SPLC is nothing but a left wing terrorist Org and should have been listed as a hate group a long time ago.

  14. Scarydad March 11, 2013 at 9:49 pm #

    Anybody else here find it tragically ironic that the DHS, which is ostensibly the department that’s supposed to keep us safe from scary things, is itself scarier than everything else?

  15. frankhen March 13, 2013 at 4:59 pm #

    Count me in!