Kansas City News Blog

The controversial document, dated February 20, is a "Strategic Report" about "The Modern Militia Movement." It outlines the history of gun-toting extremists, from Ruby Ridge to current fears about white supremacists targeting President Obama. But, if you ask Ferguson, spokesman for the Missouri Libertarian Party, the report unfairly taints peaceful groups that certainly have no intent to storm the White House. 

Under the "common militia symbols" section, the report cautions: "It is not uncommon for militia members to display Constitutional Party, Campaign for Liberty or Libertarian materials. These members are usually supporters of former Presidential Candidate Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin and Bob Barr." Just a few of the "ideologies" the report links to the militia movement: opposition to abortion, the federal income tax and illegal immigration. If you're worried about increased gun control under the Obama administration or you've seen Zeitgeist, a 2007 documentary about 9/11 conspiracies and the failings of the Federal Reserve system, you might be a militia member. 

"It literally describes half the state of Missouri as potentially linked to these hate groups," Ferguson says. "It really would be laughable, if it weren't such a serious situation." 

Ferguson says he isn't necessarily concerned that innocent drivers are going to be pulled over for their Ron Paul bumper stickers or harassed at the video store for checking out MIAC-tagged movies. "If people think they could get linked by police to one of these militant groups, they're going to be discouraged from our political process, discouraged from exercising their first amendment rights," Ferguson says. "So that's the biggest fear for me: the chilling impact it could have on people being involved in the political process and free speech. My secondary fear is: Who's next?" 

The claim that such fusion centers cast a perilously wide and dubious net isn't a complaint unique to Bob Barr supporters. In 2007, the American Civil Liberties Union published a report cautioning that fusion centers walk a fine constitutional line in collecting data of a non-criminal nature and calling it terrorism prevention. Last month, the ACLU took aim at a Texas fusion center for a leaked memo targeting anti-war activists and Muslim civil rights groups in its target area. 

This week, Mike German, National Security Policy Counsel for the ACLU, expressed concern about the Missouri report, too. "It seems to implicate people who are engaging in First Amendment protected activities and suggest that something as innocuous as supporting a political candidate for office would mean that you're harboring some ill-intent," German told FOX News. "It's completely inappropriate." 

Captain Tim Hull, spokesman for the Highway Patrol, didn't want to answer questions about the report when I called yesterday. Instead, he said he'd fax me a statement from MIAC. "These reports are designed to provide background of possible criminal activity, enhance officer safety and educate police officers to trends," the release said. "They are not a basis upon which to take enforcement action. ... We are concerned about the mischaracterizations of a document following its recent unauthorized release and we regret that any citizens or groups were unintentionally offended by the content of the document." 

Offended is an understatement. Ferguson says he's been trying to arrange a meeting with the highway patrol and MIAC but has been, thus far, rebuffed. That's not the end of the story, though. Ferguson says this issue has raised the ire of three Missouri lawmakers -- including Belton's Republican representative Chris Molendorp -- who are working to arrange a discussion that would include MIAC and the Governor's office. 

"Republicans and Democrats alike see the danger in this and I think we are going to see this issue resolved," Ferguson said. "I just hope we don't have to drag anybody through the mud to do it."