National guard units seeking to confiscate a cache of recently banned assault
weapons were ambushed on April 19th by 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 Massachusetts Governor Thomas Gage declared that the
extremist faction, which was made up of local citizens, has links to the radical
right-wing tax protest movement. Gage blamed the extremists for recent incidents
of vandalism directed against internal revenue offices.
The governor, who described the group's organizers as "criminals,"
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. Gage issued a
ban on military-style assault weapons and ammunition earlier in the week. This
decision followed a meeting early this month between government and military
leaders at which the governor authorized the forcible confiscation of illegal
arms. One government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, pointed out
"none of these people would have been killed had the extremists obeyed the
law and turned over their weapons voluntarily."
Government troops initially succeeded in confiscating a large supply of
outlawed weapons and ammunition. 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 plans.
During a tense standoff in Lexington's town park, National Guard Colonel
Francis Smith, commander of the government operation, ordered the armed group to
surrender 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 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.
Colonel Smith, finding his forces overmatched by the armed mob, ordered a
retreat.
Governor Gage has called upon citizens to support the state/national joint
task force in its effort to restore law and order. The governor has also
demanded the surrender of those responsible for planning and leading the attack
against the government troops.
Samuel Adams, Paul Revere, and John Hancock, who have been identified as
"ringleaders" of the extremist faction, remain at large.
Author Unknown
