FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Smears “Pro-Gun, Anti-Government”
Americans Who Might Also Flash The Constitution Or Bible

by Larry Pratt

Comedian Jeff Foxworthy has made a good living with his routines and
book titled “You Might Be A Redneck If….” What he does is to list
a series of things which, if true, mean you might, well, be a
redneck. Much of what he says is hilarious and, for the most part,
good clean fun.

Following in the footsteps of what Foxworthy has done — though
unwittingly I’m sure — the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin has given
us its version of what this Southern comic has done. You might call
what the Feds have done in this publication “You Might Be A Member
Of An Extremist Group If….” The difference here, however, is that
Foxworthy’s humor is good-natured; the article in this “Bulletin”
is definitely not funny and, arguably, slanders and smears a lot of
decent, law-abiding, God-fearing Americans.

The piece in question is titled “Vehicle Stops Involving Extremist
Group Members.” It appeared in the December 1999 issue of the FBI
Law Enforcement Bulletin. Its author is identified as James Kobolt,
director of the Institute For Public Safety at Lake Superior State
University in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. The objectionable
portions of this egregious article are as follows:

“Members of extremist groups may reveal their affiliations in a
number of ways…. Specifically, extremists’ vehicles may sport
bumper stickers with antigovernment or pro-gun sentiments…. The
occupants of the vehicle may show other signs of extremist group
involvement. Drivers who hold anti-government beliefs may… present
handmade [driver's] licenses, a copy of the Constitution, a Bible,
or political literature….”

Well, now. So, how do you measure up? Do you pass or flunk the FBI
test? Have you ever sported an “anti-government” or “pro-gun” bumper
sticker? Have you ever showed a law enforcement officer a copy of
the Constitution, a Bible, or “political literature” (whatever this
means)? If you say “yes,” then you might — “may” — be a member of
an “extremist group.”

But, this is pernicious nonsense. Evidently, for the publishers of
the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, extremist rhetoric in pursuit of
alleged extremists, is OK. When we interviewed John Ott, editor of
the Bulletin to register a vigorous complaint re: the previously
quoted outrageous assertions, here’s the way it went:

For openers, Ott readily agrees that the overwhelming majority of
those with such bumper stickers are law-abiding citizens. He says
the purpose of the Bulletin is “a forum for discussion” and “this is
why when we edit the articles we make very sure that they use the
words ‘may’ and ‘possible’ that these are signs of extremist
activity and not literal or clear signs of actual extremist
activity.”

Q: But these “extremists” may also be wearing Levis or Mohawk
haircuts or be associated with a hundred other things. So, why
single out pro-gun and/or anti-government sentiments on bumper
stickers, or showing a cop a copy of the Constitution or a Bible?

A: We’re discussing officer safety during legitimate traffic
stops in response to actual traffic violations. Any other traffic
stops are clearly illegal.

Q: But, why single out only what is mentioned as ways you ‘may’
encounter an ‘extremist’?

A: Because they have occurred and there have been incidents where
this has happened. It’s just a possibility.”

Q: But, as I say, there are, presumably, many other things
associated with such extremists. So, why mention only what you
mention?

A: Those were just two examples.

Q: But, why mention only these two?

A: Because he was talking about right-wing supremacists, militia,
primarily.

Q: And showing a copy of the Constitution and/or Bible also makes
one an extremist?

A: A lot of the extremist groups believe some Millennial ideas.
It’s a possibility. That’s all. It’s a possibility. It’s a
suggestion for officers to be aware.

Q: But, if we agree that the overwhelming majority of folks with
pro-gun, anti-government bumper stickers — and who show a copy of
the Constitution and/or the Bible — are law-abiding citizens and
not extremists, how does it help a law enforcement officer to say
that these things ‘may’ indicate an extremist? ‘May’ also means
‘may not.’

Well, says Ott, most officers know their area and groups in it. They
have only a limited number of pages in the Bulletin. This is “a
discussion. And I emphasize… that contributors’ opinions and
statements are not considered an endorsement by the FBI whatsoever.”

Q: I’m sorry you consider one an extremist who is anti-government.

A: Not at all.

Q: Not at all?!

A: No, that article does not say that. These are all ‘maybes’ and
‘possibles.’ Things that officers should be aware of.

Q: Our country was founded by folks who were anti-government, or
at least anti-a-certain-government.

A: Fine. I have no problem with that. I don’t agree with all of
what was in the article. But it opens a forum for discussion and
gives some information for officers to look at. We didn’t ask for
this article. He simply submitted it. It wasn’t written by an FBI
employee.

Q: But, it was approved by an FBI employee.

A: No.

Q: You’re not an FBI employee?

A: I am and approved it for publication. And it was approved by
our Behavioral Science Unit.

Q: Oh, my goodness! So, the shrinks said it was OK! So, where’s
this forum for discussion you keep mentioning? I see no
letters-to-the-editor section. Also, the article uses the word
‘extremist’ as pejorative. But is being ‘extreme’ always bad,
every time, about everything?

A: It’s a term that has been used in law enforcement and in other
areas to describe the group of people we are talking about. And we
didn’t want to say rightwing conservatives.

Q: But, you did say that in this conversation.

A: I know. But we’re more concerned with extremists, people who
are involved in extreme activities. And that’s obvious and that’s
why we used the term.

Q: Right. Like people with pro-gun, anti-government bumper
stickers.

A: No. That’s not what we’re talking about. That’s not even the
gist of the article.

Q: But the article specifically mentions these kinds of bumper
stickers! And I still don’t see how a cop is helped by being told
that such bumper stickers may or may not indicate extremists.

A: These are just clues that such people may have some views that
may effect the process of the arrest. That’s all. It’s one tiny
clue.

He says we’re picking on “some small parts of the article.”

Ott notes that he’s a conservative and carries a Bible in his car.

Ott says that what we’re complaining about is only “a small portion”
of the article “and the editing of it and the wording of it may be
unfortunate…”

Q: May be! There’s that weasel-word again.

A: And I can guarantee you that I may be more careful about
editing these types of articles in the future because I am much
more aware of the concerns of people like yourself because we’ve
received about nine complaints like yours.

Well, let’s hope Mr. Ott will be more careful in the future. If
you’d like to contact him, the address is: FBI Law Enforcement
Bulletin, c/o Federal Bureau Of Investigation, 935 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20535-0001.

— GOA —

[Larry Pratt is Executive Director of Gun Owners of America located
at 8001 Forbes Place, Springfield, VA 22151 and at
http://www.gunowners.org on the web.]