Walden University ScholarWorks Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection 2016 Texas Sheriff eP rceptions of the Militia Movement John F. Fisher Walden University Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations Part of the Criminology Commons, Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons, and the Public Policy Commons This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies Collection at ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Walden University College of Social and Behavioral Sciences This is to certify that the doctoral dissertation by John F. Fisher has been found to be complete and satisfactory in all respects, and that any and all revisions required by the review committee have been made. Review Committee Dr. Tina Jaeckle, Committee Chairperson, Human Services Faculty Dr. Anne Hacker, Committee Member, Human Services Faculty Dr. Mary Bold, University Reviewer, Human Services Faculty Chief Academic Officer Eric Riedel, Ph.D. Walden University 2016 Abstract Texas Sheriff Perceptions of the Militia Movement by John F. Fisher MA, Sul Ross State University, 2007 MS, Sul Ross State University, 2005 BS, Angelo State University, 2001 Proposal Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Human Services Specializing in Criminal Justice Walden University August 2016 Abstract With the election of President Barack Obama, the United States has seen a steady increase in the number of right-wing militia groups. The Southern Poverty Law Center and the Department of Homeland Security have claimed that the various militia groups are a dangerous domestic terrorism threat. Law enforcement perceptions of the threat that these militia groups pose served as the focus of inquiry in this multiple case study. These perceptions were explored through the theoretical frameworks of groupthink, Credulous Bayesianism, and nudge theory. A purposeful sample of 12 local sheriffs in Texas were interviewed in an attempt to identify common themes regarding their perceptions of militia groups. Two common themes emerged from the interviews, which showed that sheriffs’ firsthand knowledge and experience with members of the militia were instrumental in their approach to militias. If sheriffs had direct contact with the militia, then they did not believe that it posed a threat to society. However, if sheriffs did not have firsthand experience with the militia and depended on the media for their opinions, then they followed the narrative that the militia groups are dangerous. This research project showed that sheriffs’ direct interaction with the militia can decrease law enforcement’s fear of militia groups, allowing sheriffs to detect, investigate, and prosecute any actual threats from militia groups to make their communities safer while protecting the rights of all citizens. Texas Sheriff Perceptions of the Militia Movement by John F. Fisher MA, Sul Ross State University, 2007 MS, Sul Ross State University, 2005 BS, Angelo State University, 2001 Proposal Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Human Services Specializing in Criminal Justice Walden University June 2016 Dedication This project is dedicated to the local law enforcement officers who spend 24 hours a day seven days a week protecting this country from all threats foreign and domestic. Acknowledgments I would like to acknowledge Dr. Tina Jaeckle, Dr. Anne Hacker, and Dr. Mary Bold. Without their help and advice, this project would never have been completed. I would also like to give a big thank you to my wife, Sonia, and to the rest of my family for tolerating my absence from family functions as I worked to complete this project and for the encouragement they have given me over the past few years. I would also like to thank Steven Wakefield, M.S., who helped write the computer program used to select randomly in which order Texas counties were contacted. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study ........................................................................ 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 Background ......................................................................................................................... 5 Problem Statement .............................................................................................................. 9 Purpose of Study ............................................................................................................... 11 Research Questions ........................................................................................................... 12 Theoretical Foundation ..................................................................................................... 13 Nature of Study ................................................................................................................. 14 Definitions ........................................................................................................................ 15 Local Law Enforcement ................................................................................ 15 Perception ..................................................................................................... 16 Extremism ..................................................................................................... 16 Right-Wing Extremism ................................................................................. 17 Domestic terrorism........................................................................................ 18 Militia ............................................................................................................ 18 Hate Groups .................................................................................................. 19 i Sovereign Citizens ........................................................................................ 19 Assumptions ...................................................................................................................... 19 Scope and Delimitations ................................................................................................... 20 Limitations ........................................................................................................................ 21 Significance ...................................................................................................................... 21 Summary ........................................................................................................................... 22 Chapter 2: Literature Review ............................................................................................ 24 Perceptions of the Right Wing Militia by Law Enforcement ........................................... 24 Literature Search Strategy ................................................................................................ 25 Theoretical Foundation ..................................................................................................... 26 Perception Shaped by the Media ................................................................... 26 Nudging......................................................................................................... 27 Credulous Bayesianism ................................................................................. 29 Self-fulfilling Prophesy ................................................................................. 30 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................... 32 Literature Review to Key Variables and Concepts ........................................................... 33 Domestic terrorism........................................................................................ 33 ii Extremism ..................................................................................................... 36 Constitutionalists........................................................................................... 39 Religious Right ............................................................................................. 40 Christian Identity Church .............................................................................. 41 Sovereign Citizens and Tax Protesters ......................................................... 42 Racial Hate Groups ....................................................................................... 43 Militia ............................................................................................................ 47 Texas Militia ................................................................................................. 50 Left-Wing Extremism ................................................................................... 52 Left-wing authoritarian. ................................................................................ 53 Event-driven extremism ................................................................................ 53 Summary ..........................................................................................................................