National Guard units seeking to confiscate a cache of recently banned assault weapons were ambushed by elements of a Para-military extremist faction. Military and law enforcement sources estimate that 72 were killed and more than 200 injured before government forces were compelled to withdraw.
Speaking after the clash, Massachusetts Governor Thomas Gage declared that the extremist faction, which was made up of local citizens, has links to the radical right-wing tax protest movement.Gage blamed the extremists for recent incidents of vandalism directed against internal revenue offices. The governor, who described the group’s organizers as “criminals,” issued an executive order authorizing the summary arrest of any individual who has interfered with the government’s efforts to secure law and order.
The military raid on the extremist arsenal followed wide-spread refusal by the local citizenry to turn over recently outlawed assault weapons.
Gage issued a ban on military-style assault weapons and ammunition earlier in the week. This decision followed a meeting in early this month between government and military leaders at which the governor authorized the forcible confiscation of illegal arms.
One government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, pointed out that “none of these people would have been killed had the extremists obeyed the law and turned over their weapons voluntarily.”
Government troops initially succeeded in confiscating a large supply of outlawed weapons and ammunition. However, troops attempting to seize arms and ammunition in Lexington met with resistance from heavily-armed extremists who had been tipped off regarding the government’s plans.
During a tense standoff in the Lexington town park, National Guard Colonel Francis Smith, commander of the government operation, ordered the armed group to surrender and return to their homes. The impasse was broken by a single shot, which was reportedly fired by one of the right-wing extremists.
Eight civilians were killed in the ensuing exchange.
Ironically, the local citizenry blamed government forces rather than the extremists for the civilian deaths. Before order could be restored, armed citizens from surrounding areas had descended upon the guard units. Colonel Smith, finding his forces over matched by the armed mob, ordered a retreat.
Governor Gage has called upon citizens to support the state/national joint task force in its effort to restore law and order. The governor also demanded the surrender of those responsible for planning and leading the attack against the government troops.
Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and John Hancock, who have been identified as “ringleaders” of the extremist faction, remain at large.
And this fellow Americans, is how the American Revolution began, April 20, 1775.
Ken, you scared the living crap out of me until I recognized Gage's name.
ReplyDeleteLexington & Concord are in Massachusetts, not Maryland - might want to correct the header
ReplyDeleteWow i was worried for a minute reading about this ambush until i saw the name Samuel Adams. I hope we never get to that moment in time again!
ReplyDeleteGood lesson. Stop and think people. Kid sniffer asked the criminals in CONgress to look into gun control. They will be coming for the ARs (despite the fact they're almost never used...) and there will be a 'group' of men who decide the 2nd amendment is worth something to them.
ReplyDeleteAnd the worm of history will make another turn.
My gun is freshly purchased. I am wondering if I will make it available to those that know how to use it or if I will bury it in security for future use.
ReplyDeleteThen learn how to use it (practiced in the use and maintenance) and be confident in your ability. This is what the term 'well regulated' means in the 2nd Amendment. In the early days, it was the law for every male upon attaining the age of 16 to own and maintain a firearm (keep and bear arms).
DeleteOr give it to me. If it is time to bury it to keep from being taken, it is time to use it against totalitarian rule.
INCORRECT
ReplyDeleteThe National Guard is NOT the militia. This is an important point since this is what the gun grabbers say in order to bolster their cause.
The actual date is April 19th.