AP
April 20, 1775
BOSTON. National guard units seeking to confiscate a cache of recently banned
assault weapons were ambushed on April 19th by elements of a para-military
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 wide-spread 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 in 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 that
"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.
April 20, 1775
BOSTON. National guard units seeking to confiscate a cache of recently banned
assault weapons were ambushed on April 19th by elements of a para-military
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 wide-spread 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 in 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 that
"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.