This news story is dated April 20th

BOSTON -- National guard units seeking to confiscate a cache of
recently banned assault rifles were ambushed on April 19th by
elements of a paramilitary extremist faction. Military and law
enforcement officials estimate that 72 were killed and more than 200
injured before government forces were compelled to withdraw.

Speaking after the clash, Massachusetts Governor Thomas Gage declared
that the extremist faction, which was made up of local citizens, has
links to the radical right-wing tax protest movement.

Gage 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 widespread
refusal by the local citizenry to turn over recently outlawed assault
weapons. Gage issued a ban on military-style assault weapons and
ammunition earlier in the week. This decision followed a meeting
earlier this month between government and military leaders at which
the governor authorized the forcible confiscation of illegal arms.

One government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, pointed
out that "none of these people would have been killed had the
extremists obeyed the law and turned over their weapons voluntarily."

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 plan.

During a tense standoff in Lexington's 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.

Eight civilians were killed in the ensuing exchange. Ironically, the
local citizenry blamed government forces rather than the extremists
for the civilian deaths. Before order could be restored, armed
citizens from surrounding areas had descended upon the guard units.
Colonel Smith, finding his forces overmatched by the armed mob,
ordered a retreat.

Governor Gage has called upon citizens to support the state/national
joint task force in its effort to restore law and order. The governor
has also demanded the surrender of those responsible for planning and
leading the attack against the government forces. Samuel Adams, Paul
Revere, and John Hancock, who have been identified as "ringleaders"
of the extremist faction, remain at large.


By The Way,.. that was April 20, 1775.