Five members of what is being described as the "Sovereign Rights Movement" have been arrested for plotting to kill a judge and 2 state troopers in Alaska.

The Anchorage Daily News:

An investigation "revealed extensive plans to kidnap or kill Alaska state troopers and a Fairbanks judge," the statement said. The plans included "extensive surveillance" on the homes of two Fairbanks troopers, the statement said.

"Investigation also revealed that extensive surveillance on troopers in the Fairbanks area had occurred, specifically on the locations of the homes for two Alaska state troopers," the statement said. "Furthermore, Cox et. al. had acquired a large cache of weapons in order to carry out attacks against their targeted victims. Some of the weapons known to be in the cache are prohibited by state or federal law."

U.S. Attorney Karen Loeffler said Lonnie Vernon, 55, was arrested for threatening to kill a federal judge. She said more information about federal charges would be released today Fairbanks Police Chief Loren Zager said the operation involved multiple police actions related to Fairbanks-area members of the "sovereign citizen" movement.

[...]

The sovereign citizen movement is characterized by a rejection of U.S. laws and taxes. In general, participants believe that federal, state and local statutes and laws do not apply to them.

The investigation continues, troopers said.

These people are as loony as the lefties they arrested at the 2008 Republican Convention who were planning to harm delegates on their way to the Target Center. There are extremists on both sides - not that you'd ever discover that reading some liberals today. To them, these arrests are "proof" that "right wing extremism" is a greater threat than radical Muslims.

As Richard Hofstadter pointed out in one of his essay s on political extremism, those on the "outs" are far more likely to have their fringe players become radicalized and violent. Not having political power - as in not controlling the White House or Congress - engenders feelings of helplessness that the unhinged among us seek to assuage by striking back at their perceived enemies. In the 1990's, we saw the rise of right wing militias in many states, and a strengthening of the neo-Nazis. In the 2000's, we saw political violence on the left escalate into bomb plots to blow up recruiting stations among other plans to commit acts of violence.

Extremists will always be with us as long as one side or the other feels powerless in Washington. To try and make it a partisan issue is daffy - and indicative of a desire not to address the problem but rather score political points against your opponent.