These two geographic areas, among others, are often chosen locations of people desiring to live apart of have plenty of room, but it also attracts sometimes-violent and sometimes racist motivated anti-government activity.
Recently a former "milita leader", David Burgert, is accused of opening fire on sheriff's deputies on a remote logging road in Lolo National Forest. Burgert is accused of firing shots at Missoula County sheriff's deputies June 12 before he disappeared into the Lolo National Forest. Burgert is a longtime patriot activist who spent eight years in prison on weapons charges — he had a machine gun when he was arrested — and U.S. authorities charged him at the time with trying to spark a revolution. He was released in 2010.
I really don't appreciate violent or racist groups calling themselves "militia's" nor do I like the U.S. Government lumping all people that own guns or have a survivalist mentality as "militia types".
Hence lies the problem or threat,......of having your Survival Group or chosen Survival location being associated with these nut jobs.
There was a long lull following the demise of the Hayden Lake, Idaho based neo-Nazi Aryan Nations in 2000, but to be sure anti-government and white supremacist groups and individuals are reviving in the Inland Northwest. On the surface some say the general location is due to the mostly white, mostly rural area with few job opportunities and a history of extreme activists. Others say that the number of these radical and racist groups is growing across the country because of the poor economy, rising immigration and fears that President Barack Obama's administration has an agenda to curtail individual liberties.
In January 2011, an attempt was made in Spokane, Washington to bomb the city's Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade. The bomb was found and disarmed before it could explode. The FBI called it an act of domestic terrorism that could have killed and injured many people. White supremacist Kevin Harpham has been charged in the case and could face life in prison. His trial begins in August.
A patriot group called Flathead Liberty Bell recently held a convention featuring right-wing speakers and sale of survival gear for what organizers believe is a coming showdown with federal authorities. But the difference between being prepared for a collapse or a showdown with authorities is often lost on authorities, and herein (again) lies the threat of being taken or associated with radical racist groups. I don't want my Survival Group on any Law Enforcement's radar for false impressions or investigative targeting.
These radical groups also pose a threat to Survival Groups during a collapse as their combat power and lack of recognition of authority may orient these groups to targeting small survival groups. So this means that Survival Groups will need to keep operational security tight and vet contacts with other groups or risk exposure on end up on a altogether different targeting list.
