But some say the fusion centers are going too far in whom they identify as potential threats to American security.
People who supported former third-party presidential candidates like Texas Rep. Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin and former Georgia Rep. Bob Barr are cited in the report, in addition to anti-abortion activists and conspiracy theorists who believe the United States, Mexico and Canada will someday form a North American Union.
“Militia members most commonly associate with 3rd party political groups,” the report reads. “It is not uncommon for militia members to display Constitutional Party, Campaign for Liberty or Libertarian material.”
Other potential signals of militia involvement, according to the report, are possession of the Gagsden “Don’t Tread on Me” flag or the widely available anti-income tax film “America: Freedom to Fascism.”
Barr, the 2008 Libertarian Party presidential nominee, told FOXNews.com that he’s taking steps to get his name removed from the report, which he said could actually “dilute the effectiveness” of law enforcement agencies.
“It can subject people to unwarranted and inappropriate monitoring by the government,” he said. “If I were the governor of Missouri, I’d be concerned that law enforcement agencies are wasting their time and effort on such nonsense.”
Barr said his office has received “several dozen” complaints related to the report.
Mary Starrett, communications director for the Constitution Party, said Baldwin, the party’s 2008 presidential candidate, was “outraged” that his name was included in the report.
“We were so astounded by it we couldn’t believe it was real,” Starrett told FOXNews.com. “It’s painting such a large number of people with a broad brush in a dangerous light.”
Michael German, national security policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union, said the report “crosses the line” and shows a disregard for civil liberties.
“It seems to implicate people who are engaging in First Amendment protected activities and suggest that something as innocuous as supporting a political candidate for office would mean that you’re harboring some ill-intent,” German told FOXNews.com. “It’s completely inappropriate.”
German, who claims the number of fusion centers nationwide is closer to 70, said the centers present several troubling concerns, including their excessive secrecy, ambiguous lines of authority, the use of data mining and military participation.
“No two are alike,” German said. “And these things are expanding rapidly.”
But MIAC officials defended their report, saying it’s not a basis for officers to take enforcement action.
out of work hippies libtards and the general uneducated media babies. walk the street of Hollywood making life miserable for residents that just want to take the only day they have free to see the sights and run errands impossible.
while they protest the “occupation” of unoccupied territories… :
gaza, you know that Hamas run , unincorporated “sate” that likes to dance in the streets during events that kill Americans like 9-11, call Death to the infidel, and teaches ther children from pre-school that it’s alright to die as long as you take out a few Jews with ya.
and the “war”in Iraq that is effectively over since most operations have been handed over to the Iraqi police and citizens . considering they had peaceful election this year an
Just to get this out in the open
I’m a Independent Constitutionalist (classical Jeffersonian Liberal),
and a Pagan in the Celtic tradition; not Wiccan.
more info at bottom:
I am an I/O and renders administrator and a 2-d to 3-d conversion company in Los Angeles , Artist, and Linux System Administrator . I am originally from NY. I Graduated SCAD with a BFA in Visual Effects 2006. I then went to VFS in Vancouver to study Houdini. I volunteer my time with animal rescue. I have three rescued miniature schnauzers , Zoe , Fritz , Austen ,a Cat Stormy and a wonderful husband.
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