April 19- Dateline: Boston.
Massachusetts Governor Condemns Armed Extremists
Guard units seeking to confiscate a cache of recently banned assault weapons were ambushed on April 19 by the elements of a paramilitary 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, the Massachusetts governor declared that the extremist faction, which was made up of local citizens, has links to the radical right wing tax protest movement. The Governor blamed the extremists for recent incidents of vandalism directed against internal revenue offices. The governor described the group's organizers as criminals, and 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 widespread refusal by the local citizenry to turn over recently outlawed assault weapons.
The governor issued a ban on military style weapons and ammunition earlier in the week. This decision followed a meeting earlier this month between government and military leaders at which the governor authorized 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. Government troops initially succeeded in confiscating a large supply of outlawed weapons and ammunition elsewhere in the state.
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 plan. During an intense standoff in Lexington's town park, National Guard Colonel Francis Smith, commander of the government operation, ordered the armed group to surrender their weapons 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 the 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. Col. Smith, finding his forces over matched by the armed mob, ordered a retreat.
The governor has called upon citizens to support the state and 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 government troops. Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and John Hancock, who have been identified as the ring leaders of the extremist faction, remain at large.
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