Yesterday, the president announced that the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Council were being combined under joint leadership from the (not-yet created) National Security Staff, led by a National Security Advisor. Through this action, all security threats both foreign and domestic fall under one agency. Since the National Security Council, previously in charge of dealing with foreign threats, has a great deal more power at its disposal than the Department of Homeland Security, it would seem that this action now gives Homeland Security a lot of strong resources.

Is this a good thing or a bad thing? I honestly couldn’t decide, but I started remembering a document published by Homeland Security back in April and decided to dig it out of the pile of pending legislation on my desk. This Homeland Security Assessment, “Prepared by the Extremism and Radicalization Branch, Homeland Environment Threat Analysis Division. Coordinated with the FBI” is titled “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment.” So what? I don’t know any rightwing extremists since, based on page two of the report, these people are busy running around recruiting people to join them as “domestic rightwing terrorist and extremist group” members. Seems a bit interesting that what was an extremist can now be called a domestic terrorist, but again, probably not that important.

Even so, it might help to have a definition, and the report supplies one at the bottom of page two: “Rightwing extremism in the United States can be broadly divided into those groups, movements, and adherents that are primarily hate-oriented (based on hatred of particular religious, racial or ethnic groups), and those that are mainly antigovernment, rejecting federal authority in favor of state or local authority, or rejecting government authority entirely. It may include groups and individuals that are dedicated to a single issue, such as opposition to abortion or immigration.” This is interesting. I’m an individual, I believe that except when specifically stated in the Constitution of the United States, that States’ rights overrule federal authority, I don’t particularly like Muslims who think they need to kill us Infidels nor am I a big fan of uncontrolled immigration. Am I a domestic terrorist?

I do have a fair amount of ammunition. “The high volume of purchases and stockpiling of weapons and ammunition by rightwing extremists in anticipation of restrictions and bans in some part of the country continue to be a primary concern to law enforcement.” Not sure what law enforcement they are talking with, none of the officers I know have any concern at all, but that is a rather small sample group. When another element is added, however, I’m kind of stuck. “Antigovernment conspiracy theories and ‘end times’ prophecies could motivate extremist individuals and groups to stockpile food, ammunition, and weapons.” Since I keep a lot of food at the house, I doubt that Homeland Security would be swayed because my “end time prophecy” happens to be the risk of an ice or snow storm. The report continues to mention weapons and ammunition several more times, finally by page six mentioning “law-abiding Americans” and “law-abiding citizens” in with the “rightwing extremists” as those who are making “bulk purchases of ammunition” and “legitimate firearms” (whatever that means).  Well, at least I’m not coming back from Iraq. “Returning veterans possess combat skills and experience that are attractive to rightwing extremists. [Homeland Security] is concerned that rightwing extremists will attempt to recruit and radicalize returning veterans in order to boost their violent capabilities.” I suppose that veterans should be very careful?