The Ideology of Tactical Civics and Its Roots in the Montana Freemen’s Blueprint

In 1994, Nickolas Murnion, the Garfield County attorney in Montana, stood firm against the Montana Freemen, who had posted a $1 million bounty for his arrest and several other public officials. The Freemen, led by LeRoy Schweitzer, overplayed their hand by making threats and organizing meetings, turning the public against them. Murnion’s efforts were recognized with awards for standing up to the Freemen. Fast forward to the present day, Murnion is a district court judge presiding over the same area where the Freemen standoff occurred. Recently, a new group called Tactical Civics, with roots similar to the Freemen, has gained traction in Montana. The group promotes the idea of citizen grand juries and county militias to hold government officials accountable. However, experts warn of the organization’s anti-government leanings and conspiracy theories. Despite claims of legitimacy, Tactical Civics has faced criticism for its extremist ideology. The movement emphasizes constitutional values and aims to mobilize citizens as a lawful response to government actions. Murnion has seen a resurgence in anti-government sentiments over the years, driven by social media and right-wing media. The evolution from the Freemen to movements like Tactical Civics highlights ongoing challenges in rural areas like Montana.

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