In an effort to tackle the unsettling rise in anti-state violence, the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START) has teamed up with We the Veterans and Military Families on an initiative aimed at violence prevention. This project, known as Veterans Preventing Misinformation and Violence, seeks to engage veterans, their families, and service organizations to create a comprehensive violence prevention ecosystem. As part of a larger effort to explore the processes and trends of radicalization within the U.S. military and to pinpoint strategies that can help reduce the risks associated with this issue, START released a research brief titled, Anti-State Terrorist Plots and Attacks in the United States.
According to the brief, recent studies indicate a disturbing trend: threats against public officials, elections, and law enforcement have reached all-time highs over the past five years. Analyzing data from the Profiles of Individual Radicalization in the United States (PIRUS) project, this initiative highlights 460 premeditated plots targeting state entities from 1992-2022. Notably, many of these incidents involved anti-government extremists, particularly those linked to organized militias, who have been responsible for a significant portion of violent acts. Moreover, the findings underscore the unique characteristics of anti-government extremists. They are often older and display more protective factors compared to other extremist groups. Alarmingly, military veterans represent a disproportionate number of individuals involved in mass casualty plots.
The data reveals an urgent need for tailored violence prevention programs within the veteran community. By addressing the specific risks associated with radicalization, we can mitigate the threat of rising anti-state violence. Overall, the authors emphasize fostering resilience and critical thinking among veterans to combat misinformation and prevent violent extremism.
For more information, check out HSDL’s Focus topics on Domestic Terrorism in the US, Active Shooters, and Global Terrorism.
