"Jim Garrow's claim is even more explosive given
that the country is in the throes of a national debate about gun control, with
gun rights advocates instisting that the founders put the Second Amendment in
the Constitution primarily as a defense against government tyranny.
It also follows reports on Sunday that General James
Mattis, head of the United States Central Command, "is being told to
vacate his office several months earlier than planned." As reporter Paul
Joseph Watson commented:
"Concerns over US troops being given orders to fire
on American citizens in the event of mass gun confiscation first arose in 1995
when hundreds of Marines at 29 Palms, California were given a survey as part of
an academic project by Navy Lieutenant Commander Ernest Guy Cunningham which
asked the Marines if they would, 'Fire upon U.S. citizens who refuse or resist
confiscation of firearms banned by the United States government.'
The survey was subsequently leaked because many of the
Marines who took it were shocked by the tone of the question.
The US Military has clearly outlined innumerable civil
emergency scenarios under which troops would be authorized to fire on U.S.
citizens.
In July 2012, the process by which this could take place
was made clear in a leaked US Army Military Police training manual for 'Civil
Disturbance Operations' (PDF) dating from 2006. Similar plans were also
outlined in an updated manual released in 2010 entitled FM 3-39.40 Internment
and Resettlement Operations.
The 2006 document outlines how military assets will be
used to 'help local and state authorities to restore and maintain law and
order' in the event of mass riots, civil unrest or a declaration of martial
law.
On page 20 of the manual, rules regarding the use of
'deadly force'
in confronting "dissidents" on American soil
are made disturbingly clear with the directive that a, 'Warning shot will not
be fired.' "
