Domestic Terrorism in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Apparently, we need to be more concerned about domestic terrorism. According to Brown County Judge Donald Zuidmulder, robbing a bank qualifies.

The Oklahoma City Courthouse bombing was certainly an act of domestic terrorism. This act caused great loss of life and property; was perpetrated by an American against Americans; and was an action based upon religious conviction.

In 2004, a search of the home of William Krar and Judith Bruey yielded cyanide, bombs and an arsenal of guns and bullets. They had not had the opportunity to act, but intent was clear. This was a plan to cause massive death by Americans to Americans. This was based on the religious conviction that drives many in the Conservative Christian Movement.

Notably, then Attorney General John Ashcroft did not make any public relations appearances about this discovery and subsequent arrests and convictions. He was happy to make a big noise against Jose Padilla in 2002. But, when fellow Christians were involved, he remained mute.

Here, a man rode a bicycle to a bank, brandished a holdup note, and left. He later pleaded no contest. On 2 March, 2007 Zuidmulder sentenced Michael Nemitz to eighteen months prison time followed by forty-two months supervision. He characterized this as “an act of domestic terrorism.”

Now there are levels of terrorism as Homeland Security has classified for the convenience of us mere mortals.

Perhaps, Judge Zuidmulder can assign a color code to this act of terrorism. I am not sure if the act of a man who robs a bank with a handwritten note and uses a bicycle as a getaway vehicle should be color coded yellow, orange, or red.