http://206.155.91.60/thehawkeye.com/daily/stories/ln160612.html
The Hawk Eye
n Protest: Leader detained, members may go ahead with demonstration.
GALESBURG, Ill. -- According to his plan, authorities say militia leader Dan
Shoemaker resisted when officers came to arrest him.
Rather than coming for him during an armed protest Saturday, however,
authorities took the Western Illinois Militia founder into custody at 6 a.m.
Thursday as he arrived for work at Abingdon (Ill.) Middle School.
A witness said Shoemaker, 47, left the school where he works as a custodian
on a stretcher and was loaded into an ambulance, which was followed into
Galesburg by two Knox County, Ill., sheriff's deputies.
He was treated at Galesburg's Cottage Hospital before being taken to the
Knox County jail.
In a warrant issued Wednesday, Shoemaker was charged with four counts of
aggravated intimidation and five counts of threatening a public official in
connection with statements allegedly made June 3 against Galesburg Police
Chief John Schlaf and Knox County Sheriff James Thompson. Warrants were also
issued in neighboring Warren County charging Shoemaker with intimidation,
aggravated intimidation and threatening a public official for statements
allegedly made the same day against Warren County Sheriff Richard "Floaty"
Hart.
After the arrest, authorities said a search of Shoemaker's car turned up a
semi-automatic .308-caliber rifle and two .45-caliber semi-automatic
pistols. Three additional counts of unlawful use of a weapon while on school
property were filed Wednesday afternoon, and Knox County State's Attorney
Paul Mangieri said he's in the process of filing a charge of resisting
arrest.
Bond was set at $1 million in each county, meaning if Shoemaker were able to
post the 10 percent cash payment needed to get out of the Knox County jail,
he'd still need a like amount to avoid incarceration in Warren County.
Aggravated intimidation carries an up to seven year sentence for each count
of the felony crime. Threatening a public official is a felony punishable by
up to five years in prison.
The weapons charges are also felonies punishable by up to five years in
prison for each count. Resisting arrest is a misdemeanor that carries a
maximum one-year sentence.
Shoemaker had stated he would stage a one-man protest Saturday on the public
squares in Galesburg and Monmouth, Ill., by carrying a loaded rifle and
walking around in his camouflage militia uniform.
He claims laws making it illegal to carry a functioning weapon within an
Illinois city are unconstitutional, and said he would stage the protest as a
"demonstration of freedom."
What concerned authorities, however, were statements about plans to resist
if police or sheriff's deputies were to try to arrest him.
Shoemaker maintained his would be a peaceful demonstration, but said he
would resist "immediately and violently" if detained.
"It's not the case that you have to wait until the threat is actually acted
upon," Mangieri said.
Richard Reeves, an officer in the Western Illinois Militia, said Shoemaker's
arrest may not stop the planned protest.
"We are not ruling out someone else from the militia going ahead with the
demonstration in Captain Shoemaker's place," he said.
Warren County State's Attorney Chip Algren said police and sheriff's
deputies will be ready if that happens.
"Our police presence is going to be out there where people can see it," he
said.
In Galesburg, where the History Channel Great Race -- a 2,000-mile rally for
pre-1951 automobiles -- is scheduled to make a pit stop on the square
Saturday morning, Schlaf said additional police were already part of the
plan.
"We've actually got several activities taking place on the square Saturday
that had already required some additional personnel," he said.
Schlaf said authorities considered their options before deciding to seek the
warrants against Shoemaker.
"I think the greater interest of public safety, for example, entered into
the decision to move the way we did," he said.
Allowing Shoemaker to carry out his demonstration wasn't an option, Mangieri
said, because law officers have a sworn duty to uphold the law and the
manner in which the demonstration was to be conducted is illegal.
Asked if an involuntary psychiatric commitment had been considered, Mangieri
said he didn't see Shoemaker's mental state being at issue in the case.
In a news conference, Mangieri admitted Shoemaker's bond is higher than that
set for some murder suspects in the county. He said the amount was set
considering the possibility he would flee and the seriousness of the alleged
crimes.
But the nationally known author of the "U.S. Militiaman's Handbook" isn't
being prosecuted to "make an example" of him, Mangieri said.
"That's simply an inappropriate consideration," he said.
Shoemaker is scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. today, where he'll be
formally presented with the charges against him and asked if he'd like to
have an attorney appointed to represent him.
If Knox County Public Defender James Harrell is appointed as Shoemaker's
lawyer, a preliminary hearing could come as early as Monday morning.
On the streets, residents expressed relief upon learning Shoemaker was
behind bars.
"I think it's good he got arrested," said Brianna Fowler of Galesburg.
Another Galesburg resident, Tim Hopping, shrugged off a question about what
Shoemaker was attempting to show through his protest.
"There's no reasoning stupidity, so don't try figuring it out," he said.
In Abingdon, residents also seemed relieved.
But they were bothered by the thought that Shoemaker had spent more than two
decades in daily contact with school children.
"It seems kind of creepy now thinking about that he was around me day after
day when I was in school," resident Rob Parrish said.
Reeves said he'll come to Galesburg today to express the militia's point of
view and possibly try to reason with law enforcement officials.
"I've always viewed that warfare is the last resort," he said. "As of yet, I
don't think we've reached the last resort."
At the same time, he expressed outrage at the way authorities had handled
the matter.
"If you give the Monmouth and Galesburg police advance notice of a political
protest, they're bent to try and stop it," he said.
Second Amendment groups from the Illinois State Rifle Association to other
militia organizations have sought to distance themselves from Shoemaker
since he announced his intention to conduct his armed demonstration.
Reeves said he doesn't understand their reluctance to endorse such a
protest.
"If they're not in favor of this, I'd like for them to explain their
reason," he said. "I don't understand their position, personally."
But he did admit an exchange of gunfire with authorities could be a public
relations problem for advocates of gun rights.
"I can see how a shoot-out could hurt their case," he said.
At the same time deputies and police from Galesburg and Abingdon were
arresting Shoemaker at the school, neighbors said police also were searching
his apartment at 384 W. North St. in Galesburg.
The weapons found in Shoemaker's car, which was parked on a lot behind the
school, were reported to be a Springfield Armory M1A1 rifle, a Llama model
Max-i handgun and a Star Firestar handgun.
Shoemaker describes himself as the militia's captain, which according to his
book would place the number of his followers at between 50 and 100 people.
The book describes assassinations, summary executions and branding of
traitors, but does not espouse racist or anti-Jewish sentiments.
At a public meeting June 10 at a rural Oquawka, Ill., farm, six uniformed
members and several men in T-shirts and jeans listened as Shoemaker
announced his followers have the right to carry their weapons anytime and
anywhere, regardless of Illinois law. Supporters said several other members
were hiding in the surrounding woods while others chose not to attend.
Mangieri said there was a "clear and present danger" contained in
Shoemaker's statements that went beyond political free speech.
Algren said there wouldn't be a problem if Shoemaker or his militia brethren
conducted a peaceful demonstration in which no laws were broken.
By Stephen A. Martin <mailto:smartin@thehawkeye.com>
The Hawk Eye
n Protest: Leader detained, members may go ahead with demonstration.
GALESBURG, Ill. -- According to his plan, authorities say militia leader Dan Shoemaker resisted when officers came to arrest him.
Rather than coming for him during an armed protest Saturday, however, authorities took the Western Illinois Militia founder into custody at 6 a.m. Thursday as he arrived for work at Abingdon (Ill.) Middle School.
A witness said Shoemaker, 47, left the school where he works as a custodian on a stretcher and was loaded into an ambulance, which was followed into Galesburg by two Knox County, Ill., sheriff's deputies.
He was treated at Galesburg's Cottage Hospital before being taken to the Knox County jail.
In a warrant issued Wednesday, Shoemaker was charged with four counts of aggravated intimidation and five counts of threatening a public official in connection with statements allegedly made June 3 against Galesburg Police Chief John Schlaf and Knox County Sheriff James Thompson. Warrants were also issued in neighboring Warren County charging Shoemaker with intimidation, aggravated intimidation and threatening a public official for statements allegedly made the same day against Warren County Sheriff Richard "Floaty" Hart.
After the arrest, authorities said a search of Shoemaker's car turned up a semi-automatic .308-caliber rifle and two .45-caliber semi-automatic pistols. Three additional counts of unlawful use of a weapon while on school property were filed Wednesday afternoon, and Knox County State's Attorney Paul Mangieri said he's in the process of filing a charge of resisting arrest.
Bond was set at $1 million in each county, meaning if Shoemaker were able to post the 10 percent cash payment needed to get out of the Knox County jail, he'd still need a like amount to avoid incarceration in Warren County.
Aggravated intimidation carries an up to seven year sentence for each count of the felony crime. Threatening a public official is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
The weapons charges are also felonies punishable by up to five years in prison for each count. Resisting arrest is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum one-year sentence.
Shoemaker had stated he would stage a one-man protest Saturday on the public squares in Galesburg and Monmouth, Ill., by carrying a loaded rifle and walking around in his camouflage militia uniform.
He claims laws making it illegal to carry a functioning weapon within an Illinois city are unconstitutional, and said he would stage the protest as a "demonstration of freedom."
What concerned authorities, however, were statements about plans to resist if police or sheriff's deputies were to try to arrest him.
Shoemaker maintained his would be a peaceful demonstration, but said he would resist "immediately and violently" if detained.
"It's not the case that you have to wait until the threat is actually acted upon," Mangieri said.
Richard Reeves, an officer in the Western Illinois Militia, said Shoemaker's arrest may not stop the planned protest.
"We are not ruling out someone else from the militia going ahead with the demonstration in Captain Shoemaker's place," he said.
Warren County State's Attorney Chip Algren said police and sheriff's deputies will be ready if that happens.
"Our police presence is going to be out there where people can see it," he said.
In Galesburg, where the History Channel Great Race -- a 2,000-mile rally for pre-1951 automobiles -- is scheduled to make a pit stop on the square Saturday morning, Schlaf said additional police were already part of the plan.
"We've actually got several activities taking place on the square Saturday that had already required some additional personnel," he said.
Schlaf said authorities considered their options before deciding to seek the warrants against Shoemaker.
"I think the greater interest of public safety, for example, entered into the decision to move the way we did," he said.
Allowing Shoemaker to carry out his demonstration wasn't an option, Mangieri said, because law officers have a sworn duty to uphold the law and the manner in which the demonstration was to be conducted is illegal.
Asked if an involuntary psychiatric commitment had been considered, Mangieri said he didn't see Shoemaker's mental state being at issue in the case.
In a news conference, Mangieri admitted Shoemaker's bond is higher than that set for some murder suspects in the county. He said the amount was set considering the possibility he would flee and the seriousness of the alleged crimes.
But the nationally known author of the "U.S. Militiaman's Handbook" isn't being prosecuted to "make an example" of him, Mangieri said.
"That's simply an inappropriate consideration," he said.
Shoemaker is scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. today, where he'll be formally presented with the charges against him and asked if he'd like to have an attorney appointed to represent him.
If Knox County Public Defender James Harrell is appointed as Shoemaker's lawyer, a preliminary hearing could come as early as Monday morning.
On the streets, residents expressed relief upon learning Shoemaker was behind bars.
"I think it's good he got arrested," said Brianna Fowler of Galesburg.
Another Galesburg resident, Tim Hopping, shrugged off a question about what Shoemaker was attempting to show through his protest.
"There's no reasoning stupidity, so don't try figuring it out," he said.
In Abingdon, residents also seemed relieved.
But they were bothered by the thought that Shoemaker had spent more than two decades in daily contact with school children.
"It seems kind of creepy now thinking about that he was around me day after day when I was in school," resident Rob Parrish said.
Reeves said he'll come to Galesburg today to express the militia's point of view and possibly try to reason with law enforcement officials.
"I've always viewed that warfare is the last resort," he said. "As of yet, I don't think we've reached the last resort."
At the same time, he expressed outrage at the way authorities had handled the matter.
"If you give the Monmouth and Galesburg police advance notice of a political protest, they're bent to try and stop it," he said.
Second Amendment groups from the Illinois State Rifle Association to other militia organizations have sought to distance themselves from Shoemaker since he announced his intention to conduct his armed demonstration.
Reeves said he doesn't understand their reluctance to endorse such a protest.
"If they're not in favor of this, I'd like for them to explain their reason," he said. "I don't understand their position, personally."
But he did admit an exchange of gunfire with authorities could be a public relations problem for advocates of gun rights.
"I can see how a shoot-out could hurt their case," he said.
At the same time deputies and police from Galesburg and Abingdon were arresting Shoemaker at the school, neighbors said police also were searching his apartment at 384 W. North St. in Galesburg.
The weapons found in Shoemaker's car, which was parked on a lot behind the school, were reported to be a Springfield Armory M1A1 rifle, a Llama model Max-i handgun and a Star Firestar handgun.
Shoemaker describes himself as the militia's captain, which according to his book would place the number of his followers at between 50 and 100 people.
The book describes assassinations, summary executions and branding of traitors, but does not espouse racist or anti-Jewish sentiments.
At a public meeting June 10 at a rural Oquawka, Ill., farm, six uniformed members and several men in T-shirts and jeans listened as Shoemaker announced his followers have the right to carry their weapons anytime and anywhere, regardless of Illinois law. Supporters said several other members were hiding in the surrounding woods while others chose not to attend.
Mangieri said there was a "clear and present danger" contained in Shoemaker's statements that went beyond political free speech.
Algren said there wouldn't be a problem if Shoemaker or his militia brethren conducted a peaceful demonstration in which no laws were broken.
The Hawk Eye
n Protest: Leader detained, members may go ahead with demonstration.
GALESBURG, Ill. -- According to his plan, authorities say militia leader Dan
Shoemaker resisted when officers came to arrest him.
Rather than coming for him during an armed protest Saturday, however,
authorities took the Western Illinois Militia founder into custody at 6 a.m.
Thursday as he arrived for work at Abingdon (Ill.) Middle School.
A witness said Shoemaker, 47, left the school where he works as a custodian
on a stretcher and was loaded into an ambulance, which was followed into
Galesburg by two Knox County, Ill., sheriff's deputies.
He was treated at Galesburg's Cottage Hospital before being taken to the
Knox County jail.
In a warrant issued Wednesday, Shoemaker was charged with four counts of
aggravated intimidation and five counts of threatening a public official in
connection with statements allegedly made June 3 against Galesburg Police
Chief John Schlaf and Knox County Sheriff James Thompson. Warrants were also
issued in neighboring Warren County charging Shoemaker with intimidation,
aggravated intimidation and threatening a public official for statements
allegedly made the same day against Warren County Sheriff Richard "Floaty"
Hart.
After the arrest, authorities said a search of Shoemaker's car turned up a
semi-automatic .308-caliber rifle and two .45-caliber semi-automatic
pistols. Three additional counts of unlawful use of a weapon while on school
property were filed Wednesday afternoon, and Knox County State's Attorney
Paul Mangieri said he's in the process of filing a charge of resisting
arrest.
Bond was set at $1 million in each county, meaning if Shoemaker were able to
post the 10 percent cash payment needed to get out of the Knox County jail,
he'd still need a like amount to avoid incarceration in Warren County.
Aggravated intimidation carries an up to seven year sentence for each count
of the felony crime. Threatening a public official is a felony punishable by
up to five years in prison.
The weapons charges are also felonies punishable by up to five years in
prison for each count. Resisting arrest is a misdemeanor that carries a
maximum one-year sentence.
Shoemaker had stated he would stage a one-man protest Saturday on the public
squares in Galesburg and Monmouth, Ill., by carrying a loaded rifle and
walking around in his camouflage militia uniform.
He claims laws making it illegal to carry a functioning weapon within an
Illinois city are unconstitutional, and said he would stage the protest as a
"demonstration of freedom."
What concerned authorities, however, were statements about plans to resist
if police or sheriff's deputies were to try to arrest him.
Shoemaker maintained his would be a peaceful demonstration, but said he
would resist "immediately and violently" if detained.
"It's not the case that you have to wait until the threat is actually acted
upon," Mangieri said.
Richard Reeves, an officer in the Western Illinois Militia, said Shoemaker's
arrest may not stop the planned protest.
"We are not ruling out someone else from the militia going ahead with the
demonstration in Captain Shoemaker's place," he said.
Warren County State's Attorney Chip Algren said police and sheriff's
deputies will be ready if that happens.
"Our police presence is going to be out there where people can see it," he
said.
In Galesburg, where the History Channel Great Race -- a 2,000-mile rally for
pre-1951 automobiles -- is scheduled to make a pit stop on the square
Saturday morning, Schlaf said additional police were already part of the
plan.
"We've actually got several activities taking place on the square Saturday
that had already required some additional personnel," he said.
Schlaf said authorities considered their options before deciding to seek the
warrants against Shoemaker.
"I think the greater interest of public safety, for example, entered into
the decision to move the way we did," he said.
Allowing Shoemaker to carry out his demonstration wasn't an option, Mangieri
said, because law officers have a sworn duty to uphold the law and the
manner in which the demonstration was to be conducted is illegal.
Asked if an involuntary psychiatric commitment had been considered, Mangieri
said he didn't see Shoemaker's mental state being at issue in the case.
In a news conference, Mangieri admitted Shoemaker's bond is higher than that
set for some murder suspects in the county. He said the amount was set
considering the possibility he would flee and the seriousness of the alleged
crimes.
But the nationally known author of the "U.S. Militiaman's Handbook" isn't
being prosecuted to "make an example" of him, Mangieri said.
"That's simply an inappropriate consideration," he said.
Shoemaker is scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. today, where he'll be
formally presented with the charges against him and asked if he'd like to
have an attorney appointed to represent him.
If Knox County Public Defender James Harrell is appointed as Shoemaker's
lawyer, a preliminary hearing could come as early as Monday morning.
On the streets, residents expressed relief upon learning Shoemaker was
behind bars.
"I think it's good he got arrested," said Brianna Fowler of Galesburg.
Another Galesburg resident, Tim Hopping, shrugged off a question about what
Shoemaker was attempting to show through his protest.
"There's no reasoning stupidity, so don't try figuring it out," he said.
In Abingdon, residents also seemed relieved.
But they were bothered by the thought that Shoemaker had spent more than two
decades in daily contact with school children.
"It seems kind of creepy now thinking about that he was around me day after
day when I was in school," resident Rob Parrish said.
Reeves said he'll come to Galesburg today to express the militia's point of
view and possibly try to reason with law enforcement officials.
"I've always viewed that warfare is the last resort," he said. "As of yet, I
don't think we've reached the last resort."
At the same time, he expressed outrage at the way authorities had handled
the matter.
"If you give the Monmouth and Galesburg police advance notice of a political
protest, they're bent to try and stop it," he said.
Second Amendment groups from the Illinois State Rifle Association to other
militia organizations have sought to distance themselves from Shoemaker
since he announced his intention to conduct his armed demonstration.
Reeves said he doesn't understand their reluctance to endorse such a
protest.
"If they're not in favor of this, I'd like for them to explain their
reason," he said. "I don't understand their position, personally."
But he did admit an exchange of gunfire with authorities could be a public
relations problem for advocates of gun rights.
"I can see how a shoot-out could hurt their case," he said.
At the same time deputies and police from Galesburg and Abingdon were
arresting Shoemaker at the school, neighbors said police also were searching
his apartment at 384 W. North St. in Galesburg.
The weapons found in Shoemaker's car, which was parked on a lot behind the
school, were reported to be a Springfield Armory M1A1 rifle, a Llama model
Max-i handgun and a Star Firestar handgun.
Shoemaker describes himself as the militia's captain, which according to his
book would place the number of his followers at between 50 and 100 people.
The book describes assassinations, summary executions and branding of
traitors, but does not espouse racist or anti-Jewish sentiments.
At a public meeting June 10 at a rural Oquawka, Ill., farm, six uniformed
members and several men in T-shirts and jeans listened as Shoemaker
announced his followers have the right to carry their weapons anytime and
anywhere, regardless of Illinois law. Supporters said several other members
were hiding in the surrounding woods while others chose not to attend.
Mangieri said there was a "clear and present danger" contained in
Shoemaker's statements that went beyond political free speech.
Algren said there wouldn't be a problem if Shoemaker or his militia brethren
conducted a peaceful demonstration in which no laws were broken.
By Stephen A. Martin <mailto:smartin@thehawkeye.com>
The Hawk Eye
n Protest: Leader detained, members may go ahead with demonstration.
GALESBURG, Ill. -- According to his plan, authorities say militia leader Dan Shoemaker resisted when officers came to arrest him.
Rather than coming for him during an armed protest Saturday, however, authorities took the Western Illinois Militia founder into custody at 6 a.m. Thursday as he arrived for work at Abingdon (Ill.) Middle School.
A witness said Shoemaker, 47, left the school where he works as a custodian on a stretcher and was loaded into an ambulance, which was followed into Galesburg by two Knox County, Ill., sheriff's deputies.
He was treated at Galesburg's Cottage Hospital before being taken to the Knox County jail.
In a warrant issued Wednesday, Shoemaker was charged with four counts of aggravated intimidation and five counts of threatening a public official in connection with statements allegedly made June 3 against Galesburg Police Chief John Schlaf and Knox County Sheriff James Thompson. Warrants were also issued in neighboring Warren County charging Shoemaker with intimidation, aggravated intimidation and threatening a public official for statements allegedly made the same day against Warren County Sheriff Richard "Floaty" Hart.
After the arrest, authorities said a search of Shoemaker's car turned up a semi-automatic .308-caliber rifle and two .45-caliber semi-automatic pistols. Three additional counts of unlawful use of a weapon while on school property were filed Wednesday afternoon, and Knox County State's Attorney Paul Mangieri said he's in the process of filing a charge of resisting arrest.
Bond was set at $1 million in each county, meaning if Shoemaker were able to post the 10 percent cash payment needed to get out of the Knox County jail, he'd still need a like amount to avoid incarceration in Warren County.
Aggravated intimidation carries an up to seven year sentence for each count of the felony crime. Threatening a public official is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison.
The weapons charges are also felonies punishable by up to five years in prison for each count. Resisting arrest is a misdemeanor that carries a maximum one-year sentence.
Shoemaker had stated he would stage a one-man protest Saturday on the public squares in Galesburg and Monmouth, Ill., by carrying a loaded rifle and walking around in his camouflage militia uniform.
He claims laws making it illegal to carry a functioning weapon within an Illinois city are unconstitutional, and said he would stage the protest as a "demonstration of freedom."
What concerned authorities, however, were statements about plans to resist if police or sheriff's deputies were to try to arrest him.
Shoemaker maintained his would be a peaceful demonstration, but said he would resist "immediately and violently" if detained.
"It's not the case that you have to wait until the threat is actually acted upon," Mangieri said.
Richard Reeves, an officer in the Western Illinois Militia, said Shoemaker's arrest may not stop the planned protest.
"We are not ruling out someone else from the militia going ahead with the demonstration in Captain Shoemaker's place," he said.
Warren County State's Attorney Chip Algren said police and sheriff's deputies will be ready if that happens.
"Our police presence is going to be out there where people can see it," he said.
In Galesburg, where the History Channel Great Race -- a 2,000-mile rally for pre-1951 automobiles -- is scheduled to make a pit stop on the square Saturday morning, Schlaf said additional police were already part of the plan.
"We've actually got several activities taking place on the square Saturday that had already required some additional personnel," he said.
Schlaf said authorities considered their options before deciding to seek the warrants against Shoemaker.
"I think the greater interest of public safety, for example, entered into the decision to move the way we did," he said.
Allowing Shoemaker to carry out his demonstration wasn't an option, Mangieri said, because law officers have a sworn duty to uphold the law and the manner in which the demonstration was to be conducted is illegal.
Asked if an involuntary psychiatric commitment had been considered, Mangieri said he didn't see Shoemaker's mental state being at issue in the case.
In a news conference, Mangieri admitted Shoemaker's bond is higher than that set for some murder suspects in the county. He said the amount was set considering the possibility he would flee and the seriousness of the alleged crimes.
But the nationally known author of the "U.S. Militiaman's Handbook" isn't being prosecuted to "make an example" of him, Mangieri said.
"That's simply an inappropriate consideration," he said.
Shoemaker is scheduled to appear in court at 1:30 p.m. today, where he'll be formally presented with the charges against him and asked if he'd like to have an attorney appointed to represent him.
If Knox County Public Defender James Harrell is appointed as Shoemaker's lawyer, a preliminary hearing could come as early as Monday morning.
On the streets, residents expressed relief upon learning Shoemaker was behind bars.
"I think it's good he got arrested," said Brianna Fowler of Galesburg.
Another Galesburg resident, Tim Hopping, shrugged off a question about what Shoemaker was attempting to show through his protest.
"There's no reasoning stupidity, so don't try figuring it out," he said.
In Abingdon, residents also seemed relieved.
But they were bothered by the thought that Shoemaker had spent more than two decades in daily contact with school children.
"It seems kind of creepy now thinking about that he was around me day after day when I was in school," resident Rob Parrish said.
Reeves said he'll come to Galesburg today to express the militia's point of view and possibly try to reason with law enforcement officials.
"I've always viewed that warfare is the last resort," he said. "As of yet, I don't think we've reached the last resort."
At the same time, he expressed outrage at the way authorities had handled the matter.
"If you give the Monmouth and Galesburg police advance notice of a political protest, they're bent to try and stop it," he said.
Second Amendment groups from the Illinois State Rifle Association to other militia organizations have sought to distance themselves from Shoemaker since he announced his intention to conduct his armed demonstration.
Reeves said he doesn't understand their reluctance to endorse such a protest.
"If they're not in favor of this, I'd like for them to explain their reason," he said. "I don't understand their position, personally."
But he did admit an exchange of gunfire with authorities could be a public relations problem for advocates of gun rights.
"I can see how a shoot-out could hurt their case," he said.
At the same time deputies and police from Galesburg and Abingdon were arresting Shoemaker at the school, neighbors said police also were searching his apartment at 384 W. North St. in Galesburg.
The weapons found in Shoemaker's car, which was parked on a lot behind the school, were reported to be a Springfield Armory M1A1 rifle, a Llama model Max-i handgun and a Star Firestar handgun.
Shoemaker describes himself as the militia's captain, which according to his book would place the number of his followers at between 50 and 100 people.
The book describes assassinations, summary executions and branding of traitors, but does not espouse racist or anti-Jewish sentiments.
At a public meeting June 10 at a rural Oquawka, Ill., farm, six uniformed members and several men in T-shirts and jeans listened as Shoemaker announced his followers have the right to carry their weapons anytime and anywhere, regardless of Illinois law. Supporters said several other members were hiding in the surrounding woods while others chose not to attend.
Mangieri said there was a "clear and present danger" contained in Shoemaker's statements that went beyond political free speech.
Algren said there wouldn't be a problem if Shoemaker or his militia brethren conducted a peaceful demonstration in which no laws were broken.
