The Lists 'Constitutionalist' in Extremist Guide

A recent Department of Justice guide for investigators of criminal and extremist groups lists 'constitutionalists' and 'survivalists' alongside organizations like Al-Qaeda and the Hezballah.

The document titled 'Investigating Terrorism and Criminal Extremism—Terms and Concepts' is a 'glossary designed primarily as a tool for criminal justice professionals to enhance their understanding of words relating to extremist terminology, phrases, activities, symbols, organizations, and selected names that they may encounter while conducting criminal investigations or prosecutions of members of extremist organizations', according to the DoJ.

The document continues with 'Significant groups, organizations, movements, and publications that are important for an understanding of terrorism/extremism in the United States and that may be encountered by law enforcement officers and prosecutors are also documented.'

While the document does state that 'The fact that an entry appears in this publication does not imply a connection to illegal activity', it notes that 'the key criterion for inclusion of a term, phrase, or name in this publication is the likelihood that investigators and prosecutors may encounter it during the scope of their duties'.

You might be surprised at some of the terms that are defined in this document. Then again, with the current state of affairs you might not be!

Here are some of the terms it defines:

Anti-abortion Movement: A very large movement dedicated to stopping the practice of abortion, which remains one of the foremost political issues in the United States. Extremists have assassinated abortion physicians and their employees in the United States.

Citizens Militia: A type of paramilitary group often started to 'protect' the citizenry from a tyrannical federal government.

Constitution Party: A minor, right-wing extremist political party, formerly known as the U.S. Taxpayers Party (USTP), which is one of the primary parties that specifically try to appeal to the 'patriot' movement.

Constitutionalist: A generic term for members of the 'patriot' movement. It is now often used to refer to members of the sovereign citizen or common law court movement.

Homophobia: Fear and/or loathing of homosexuals.

Oath of Office: An oath public officials take that 'patriots' claim binds them to the patriots' view of duty. Perhaps the most common charge leveled by antigovernment extremists is that their public officials are violating oaths of office if they enforce an unpopular law, rule, or regulation.

One World Government: The concept that there will ultimately be a single governing body that will control the world. Some right-wing extremists fear this occurring, believing that white people will be in the minority, with Jewish people ultimately controlling the world.

Patriot Movement: The 'patriot' movement is a general term used by its members to describe the collective movements and individuals on the extreme right wing. Among the types of individuals that can be found within the 'patriot' movement are white supremacists, sovereign citizens, tax protesters, militia members, and sometimes antiabortion or anti-environmental groups.

Restoring the Government/Constitution: One of the prime goals of many members of the 'patriot' movement, who claim they are not trying to overthrow the government but rather want to 'restore' the government to its status before it started 'ignoring' the Constitution. Patriots claim that most actions of the U.S. government are unconstitutional and illegal.

Tax Protest Movement: A movement consisting of people who do not simply want to avoid paying taxes but generally claim they should not have to pay them.

While this is not a complete list and there are real terrorist and extremist groups and terms defined in the document, it is instructive to look at the above list. Just look at some of those terms and how they define them. What does 'homophobia' have anything to do with this list? The 'constitution party' is a right-wing extremist political party? ‘Restoring the government' is considered an act of extremism? And, note how the term 'patriot' is interwoven in many definitions. Is the DoJ trying to discredit anyone who does not agree with it?

Why are these terms even on a list of terms for investigating terrorism and extremism? It’s because anyone who is anti-big government, anyone who believes in limited government as our founders did, are becoming enemies of government. It's truly sad, frightening, and enraging at the same time! Our own government considers its own people the enemy, if those people do not agree with it.

Then again, we have now come to expect this type of action from our own Justice Department. Take a look at this: The DoJ changes its website. It's crazy that they consider 'patriot', 'constitutionalist', and 'anti-abortion' as extremism. But, it does illustrate how far off track our own government has become. And, from the looks of their new website banner our federal government appears to have every intention of continuing on the path they are on.