The last Depression was quite fertile ground for right-wing paramilitary groups, like Father Coughlin's Christian Front, William Dudley Pelley's Silver Shirts, and other quasi-fascist mass formations (driven largely by anti-semitism).
Something like that is now happening again, as we continue sliding into this Depression; and Ignatius Piazza would appear to be a major figure in the current movement. There's quite a lot on-line about Piazza, who believes that gun enthusiasts should not pretend to be mere sportsmen, but stand up and assert their rights to arm themselves for (defensive) combat--under the Second Amendment, as Piazza understands it. He seems less keen on organizing "a well-run militia" than on handing out a lot of Springfield Pistols, and teaching people how to use them against others. What people, though? And at which "others" would they fire? The text below, with its reference to "the potential for civil unrest in every major city," suggests clearly that the goal is to get white suburbanites prepared to take aim at the urban poor-- in "self-defense." We saw this sort of "self-defense" when Hurricane Katrina shattered New Orleans, and cops there opened fire on two families trying to flee the devastation by crossing the Danziger Bridge. Two people were killed, and four others wounded (one had her arm blown off completely). At the time we heard that they were "snipers," whom the cops had shot in self-defense; but then it turned out that the only people doing any shooting were the cops, who ended up indicted for the slaughter: http://www.democracynow.org/2007/8/31/the_danziger_bridge_killings_how_new (The charges were, of course, eventually dismissed: http://www.southernstudies.org/2008/08/charges-dismissed-against-officers-in.html) This is the sort of "self-defense" applauded by Rush Limbaugh and his ditto-heads, and also by the likes of Joseph Farah, an editor at WorldNet Daily, owned by Richard Mellon Scaife (see below). It's the sort of "self-defense" that has always caused, and always has been used to justify, atrocity, whether the aggressors or the victims might be Jewish, Christian or Islamic, black or white, and so on. In any case, let's hope that things get better on the economic front. If they don't, we'll either have to find ways to defend ourselves against such mad, projective "self-defense," or else just leave this country to its gunmen. MCM Mark, Below is an email from Townhall.com, obviously a source with huge email reach. Incredible that this is the CEO's first ever endorsement. What can we do to expose and stop these "authorities" from telling their minions to become armed and trained? Truly frightening. Marji MILLIONAIRE PATRIOT WANTS YOU ARMED AND TRAINED Offers His Own Money to Provide You With Springfield Armory Pistol and 30-State Concealed Weapon Permit Dear Reader, The next four years may prove to be a turning point for all freedom loving Americans. With the new administration holding party majorities in the House and Senate, we are facing the worst political environment for the passage of unchecked gun control legislation and further erosion of our constitutional right to bear arms than we have previously seen in our lifetimes. As the nation creeps from recession to depression, the potential for civil unrest in every major city grows more likely. There has never been a more crucial time in our nation's history to make sure you are <http://www.townhallmail.com/xzbkwkkc_lhgwssff.html>armed and trained for the protection of yourself and your family. One man in our country knows this better than most, and I'm proud to tell you, he is doing something about it. His name is Dr. Ignatius Piazza. He is the Founder and Director of <http://www.townhallmail.com/tkuhehhz_lhgwssff.html>Front Sight Firearms Training Institute and is known by his hundreds of thousands of students as 'The Millionaire Patriot' because he has literally given away millions of dollars in free and discounted training to law abiding citizens to assist them is securing what he refers to as "The Comfort of Skill at Arms." <http://www.townhallmail.com/sdnocooo_lhgwssff.html>Dr. Piazza, the Millionaire Patriot, wants YOU armed and trained and he is putting his money where his mouth is. He is providing you with the opportunity to attend five days of world class training at his Front Sight Firearms Training Institute with everything you need to secure permits to carry a concealed handgun in over 30 states-all for pennies-on-the-dollar! Plus, if you act quickly before all the guns he set aside are gone, he will give you, free of charge, a Springfield Armory XD Pistol in your choice of 9mm, .40SW, or .45ACP! That's right. This is legitimate. Thousands of people have already taken advantage of it <http://www.townhallmail.com/ayvkokko_lhgwssff.html>AND YOU SHOULD TOO! I can personally vouch for Dr. Piazza and his Front Sight Firearms Training Institute. I believe now more than ever before that EVERY American should be armed and trained to the highest levels possible-levels that exceed law enforcement and military standards. <http://www.townhallmail.com/tkuhehhj_lhgwssff.html>Take advantage of the Millionaire Patriot's offer. Get armed and trained to prepare for what may be coming in the next four years! NOW is the time to get armed and trained. Don't wait until it is too late. <http://www.townhallmail.com/tkuhehex_lhgwssff.html>Click for more details about the Millionaire Patriot's amazing offer. Sincerely, Joseph Farah Editor and Chief Executive Officer <http://www.worldnetdaily.com/>www.WorldNetDaily.com P.S., You have never seen me make such a personal endorsement, so take heed to the fact that I am telling you to <http://www.townhallmail.com/ewreueur_lhgwssff.html>take advantage of Dr. Piazza's offer to get five days of world class training at Front Sight, concealed weapon permits good in 30 states, and a <http://www.townhallmail.com/lkowfwfk_lhgwssff.html>FREE Springfield Armory XD Pistol. [ -827.324337-] --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to Mark Crispin Miller's "News From Underground" newsgroup. To unsubscribe, send a blank email to [email protected] OR go to http://groups.google.com/group/newsfromunderground and click on the "Unsubscribe or change membership" link in the yellow bar at the top of the page, then click the "Unsubscribe" button on the next page. 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