RISE IN TERRORISM MAKES IT LOCAL CONFERENCE ITEM

JACKSON -- At one time terrorism was something that only happened in other countries. America, it seemed, was immune.

Now it is another aspect of crime and violence with which police agencies at all levels must learn to contend.

"Terrorism has been on the rise worldwide for a number of years and that is just part of a general trend where people and organizations feel the need to resort to violence to further their political beliefs and gain publicity," said Bill Francis, a St. Louis-based agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Francis was an instructor at a seminar on domestic terroristic groups held Thursday at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Jackson. The day-long seminar was sponsored by the Missouri Police Chiefs Association. Some 36 police officials from Southeast Missouri and the St. Louis area attended.

The key purpose of the seminar was to increase awareness of the different types of terrorist groups, including skinheads, the Ku Klux Klan, street gangs and the militia movement.

Duane E. "Duke" Voltmer, another instructor, said these groups may vary in their agendas but their binding similarity is that they are angry, particularly at the actions of government. Voltmer owns a private consulting agency in Jefferson City that provides technical assistance and training to law enforcement agencies.

"We have an angry America in which there is animosity toward big government and the courts," Voltmer said.

These groups are unhappy with a number of things -- taxes, abortion, foreign policy, the federal government in general, immigration, education and gun control. They are protected under the First Amendment until they resort to violence to make a point or achieve a goal.

Since the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City, militia groups have become increasingly popular, Voltmer said. Last year there were only two militia groups in Missouri -- one in Kansas City, the other in St. Louis. Currently there are groups operating in 15 counties. Nationally, 41 states have militias compared to 29 pre-Oklahoma City.

Francis is unsure why the popularity of militias has grown, but fear of the loss of rights at the hands of government is one of the recurring themes.

"There seems to be that common thread among militia organizations of distrust of the federal government," he said.

Francis said many of the beliefs held by militias just do not mesh with the facts. Chief among those is the claim the United States is working towards some nebulous new world order that would lead to the end of the United States as an independent nation.

The FBI, Francis said, can only investigate political groups when there is evidence a group has committed a crime or intends to commit a crime. It is up to the local agencies, which are out in the community on a daily basis, to be on guard against potential group criminal activity.

"Local law enforcement has the responsibility to respond to information that suggests people are involved in a criminal act or that are threatening," Francis said.