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Militia Association Leader Had Help From Public Defender
BOISE, Idaho. Although Samuel Sherwood of Blackfoot envisions the end of American government, the enigmatic U.S. Militia Association leader needed a public defender to help resolve a scrape with the law.
In order to attain a public defender, there is a financial statement to fill out for the court. Sherwood listed five children and a wife as his dependents. He reported average monthly earnings as zero, $40 cash on hand and $100 in checking and savings.
The battery charges against Sherwood, for hitting two neighborhood boys, later were dropped.
Sherwood and his group have captured attention with the Oklahoma City bombing. Human rights advocates are worried whether they are dangerous to society as a whole. FBI and Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents in Boise requested a meeting with him weeks before the explosion.
They wanted to get to know this man, who was quoted as saying militia troops may have to shoot legislators in the face - a statement Sherwood has since denied. And they were especially curious to learn how many followers he has.
Sherwood said he responded by asking how many agents they have. "How many do you need to come get me? And once you have, how many do you need to get each and every member of my organization? You don't have the manpower to get all of us in one day," he said.
Sherwood has recruited about 1,000 Idahoans, organized in at least 20 Idaho counties. He preaches peace, but says his people will be ready to defend themselves to the death if they have to.
Opinions about Sherwood are as contradictory. Idaho Lt. Gov. Butch Otter calls his leadership-style "evangelical." The American Jewish Committee feels he may be dangerous. "The New American," a John Birch publication, describes Sherwood as "a voice of calm and reason, an opponent of violence and lawlessness."
Sherwood joined the Mormon Church when he was a boy and sprinkles his speeches and writing with its influences.
Sherwood emphasizes association members do not train with guns, but the Army ROTC graduate has an extensive knowledge in firearms. The political agenda for the U.S. Militia Association is steeped in anti-gun control. One early flier warns that Bill Clinton is importing 100,000 policemen from Hong Kong to seize Americans' guns.
Sherwood wants to make citizen militias, other than the National Guard, legal in Idaho. His agenda also includes fighting excessive taxation and protecting private property rights. Citizens are drawn to the U.S. Militia Association for a variety of reasons. "They are people who thought that they were going to be able to have a good job when they graduate and found that their college educations meant nothing," he said.
Sherwood asks members to observe three days of fast each year - including April 19, the anniversary of the battles at Lexington and Concord that began the War for Independence. It also is the same day of the Oklahoma bombing and Waco's deadly fire.
Sherwood insists racists are not welcome in his organization. But Jonathon Mozzochi of the Portland-based Coalition for Human Dignity worries the U.S. Militia Association will feed off a paranoia "where all kinds of violence can be justified."Sherwood told association leaders it may well come to bloodshed before they are through. "That could come to pass in America," he said. "But we know we will not begin it. We will not be the offending party. We know we're at peace."
Source: AP News Salt Lake City, May 1995.