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Dead Constitution See other Dead Constitution Articles Title: Prosecutor: 46 guns seized from Indiana man in militia plot .. Friends and family said he never expressed extreme anti-government views and that he often talked about his activities in Michigan, describing it as "playing army." Prosecutor: 46 guns seized from Ind. man in militia plot March 31, 2010 4:11 PM Federal agents seized 46 guns as well as military-survival equipment and thousands of rounds of ammunition last weekend at the home of a Hammond man described by prosecutors as an "insider" with a Michigan-based Christian militia group planning to kill police officers. Thomas Piatek, 46, was denied bond today and ordered sent to federal court in Detroit to face charges with eight other individuals from Michigan and Ohio that they were members of a fringe group called Hutaree that planned a war against the government. During Piatek's first court appearance on Monday, he had denied that he was the individual named in the indictment. But on Wednesday he admitted he was Piatek and politely answered "Yes, sir" to questions posed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul Cherry. Assistant U.S. Attorney Dean Lanter told the court that Piatek was part of the "inner circle" of Hutaree and had participated in training for firearms and bomb-making in southeast Michigan on three occasions. He was identified in a photo of Hutaree members wearing camouflage and holding guns. Piatek also was invited to attend trip to Kentucky for a "militia summit" in February, Lanter said. The trip was cut short because of a snow storm, but federal officials played an audio tape of conversations during the road trip in which Hutaree leader David Brian Stone professed his hatred of law enforcement. Federal authorities said Hutaree, based in Lenawee County, Mich., planned to fake a 911 call and kill the officer who responded. They then planned to stage an attack on other officers attending the funeral using 'improvised explosive devices." But friends and family, including Piatek's older brother, Stan, an accountant from west suburban Chicago, testified that Piatek would never take part in violent acts against the government. They described him as a good-natured man who was the primary caregiver for his schizophrenic brother and drove a truck full of Boys Scouts in a Fourth of July parade in Whiting. According to testimony, Piatek was a lifelong Hammond resident who worked for the same Chicago truck driving company for 17 years. Friends said that guns were a lifelong hobby. Lanter acknowledged that the guns were all legally obtained but that the volume, type and other evidence seized in the house pointed to a nefarious intention. "This is not a collector," Lanter said. "Nothing about that makes sense as a hobby. He is a danger to society." Friends and family said he never expressed extreme anti-government views and that he often talked about his activities in Michigan, describing it as "playing army." "I knew he went up there and played army, but I didn't know anything about the overthrowing of government," said childhood friend, James Duha, of Whiting, who said Piatek helped his family when he had a stroke. "I'm surprised he had time to do what you're saying." Piatek's attorney said that his client is not guilty just because he associated with Hutaree members. "Just because he hangs out with those guys doesn't' mean he agrees with all of their views," said Jerry Flynn, Piatek's court-appointed attorney. "It doesn't mean he agreed with those views." Piatek was arrested over the weekend at an apartment complex near suburban Clarendon Hills. It is uncertain when he will be transported to Michigan. He is currently being held in the Hammond city jail and faces charges of seditious conspiracy against the government and attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. --Mary Owen
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#1. To: Mind_Virus (#0)
"How many guns is too many?" That's what I wanna know. Wouldn't want to run afoul given the current climate. Maybe it's time to do inventory.
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There's always one within reach. I got a reminder of why yesterday. A good friend of mine took her husband to the emergency room around noon. He had come home with his scalp laid open. Two assholes robbed him in a parking lot. He resisted, so they beat him over the head with a length of pipe. Took eight stitches to close the wound.
#11. To: randge (#10)
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