Here's the source, and here's the news:
National Guard units seeking to confiscate a cache of recently banned
assault weapons were ambushed on April 19 by elements of a para-military
extremist faction. Military and law enforcement sources estimate that
72 were killed and more than 200 injured before government forces were
compelled to withdraw.
... [The Governor of Massachusetts] blamed the extremists for recent incidents of vandalism directed
against internal revenue offices. The governor, who described the
group's organizers as "criminals," issued an executive order authorizing
the summary arrest of any individual who has interfered with the
government's efforts to secure law and order.
The military raid on the extremist arsenal followed wide-spread
refusal by the local citizenry to turn over recently outlawed assault
weapons. [The Governor] issued a ban on military-style assault weapons and
ammunition earlier in the week. This decision followed a meeting in
early this month between government and military leaders at which the
governor authorized the forcible confiscation of illegal arms....
...Government troops initially succeeded in confiscating a large supply
of outlawed weapons and ammunition. However, troops attempting to seize
arms and ammunition in Lexington met with resistance from heavily-armed
extremists who had been tipped off regarding the government's plans.
During a tense standoff in the Lexington town park, National Guard
Colonel Francis Smith, commander of the government operation, ordered
the armed group to surrender and return to their homes. The impasse was
broken by a single shot, which was reportedly fired by one of the
right-wing extremists....
Sen Harry Reid was not available for comment.
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