The Patriot movement draws on images of the American Revolution and the related early period of the United States to root its credibility and power. One of its main claims is that its members are \u201cdefending the Constitution.\u201d But this is actually a duplicitous phrase; the \u201cConstitution\u201d they invoke is the movement\u2019s profoundly unusual interpretation of the document\u2014one that is often in direct opposition to how Constitutional law has developed over the last two centuries. The movement uses their dubious appeals to the Constitution to attack federal and state laws regarding land ownership, regulatory authority, redistribution of wealth, programs for social equality, and gun restrictions. It should be noted that it is a broad movement with no real center, and differing factions may hold different views on any one topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Land use issues are the Patriot movement\u2019s most popular organizing issue in the West. As part of their effort to oppose the powers of the federal government, they seek to either water down or abolish environmental and other restrictions on land use, as well as to transfer federally held lands to state, county, or private control, as a scheme to circumvent use restrictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even in the 1970s, Posse Comitatus was involved in conflicts over land use. More recently, the Patriot movement has taken up arms over land use issues.(1)<\/sup><\/a>For more information, see \u201cLand Use & the \u2018Patriots\u2019,\u201d Southern Poverty Law Center<\/em>, August 20, 2014, www.splcenter.org\/get-informed\/intelligence-report\/browse-all-issues\/2014\/fall\/Land-Use-The-Patriots-A-timeline<\/a><\/span><\/span>