“Let me just state this, Mr. Younger. There is more bloodshed coming and it’s going to land right on your doorstep in Austin. Now, I’ll be honest; I became enraged when they arrested Zach and took his wife and kid. My family’s neck also came under the bootheel of the IRS. They took everything I had. My family has no money. All I ever did up to that point was support Texas independence.”
“I understand, son. We can always debate the right way or wrong way to handle that situation, but you are obviously here to tell me something,” pressed Pops, who always had the ability to get right to the point.
“Sir, there is an operation going down in Austin tomorrow and, to be honest with you, I can’t participate anymore in this. I deeply believe in our independence but I gotta think that all of these actions, if the truth ever comes out, will eventually have the opposite effect, turning Texans against the cause,” the crew member admitted.
“I suppose you are right, son. What is it I need to know?” asked Pops.
For the next thirty minutes, Lofton’s crew member laid out the details of Lofton’s next operation.
“Dick, tell them to get the damn truck. We gotta hightail it to Austin,” Pops yelled to Dyson.
Dyson was shocked that Pops was willing to leave the accident scene.
“What the hell is going on? Why are we leaving?”
“Son, this is Commander Dyson. I want you to tell him exactly what you just told me. We are headed back to Austin.” Pops barked more orders to his Rangers on site, leaving explicit instructions on what to do if Ottosson’s body was found or any additional device evidence showed up in the lake.
“Son, what about your Jeep? You can’t just leave it there,” said Dyson.
“Y’all might want to get it back to its rightful owner,” said the crew member, making it clear that he had just “borrowed” it.
The next day, Texas Senator Simpson was due in Austin to meet with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at the historic Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin. Texas Governor Strasburg and many notable Texas politicians aligned with the Republican establishment were scheduled to be there as well.
Simpson and Strasburg were keen on trying to rebuild the relationship with the Chamber after it cut ties with the Texas chapter during the Texas Crisis. This was a high-profile meeting designed to show the world that the Texas Crisis was over and business was back to normal.
Lofton arrived in Austin with his crew the night before to make preparations. Strasburg and Simpson were his targets. The plan was to take out the governor as he left the governor’s mansion for the short trip to the Driskill, while Lofton had another team prepared to intercept Simpson’s drive to downtown Austin from his arrival at the Austin airport. Four other Texas politicians, who were considered GOP RINOs who had vehemently opposed the independence referendum, were also targeted. Lofton had prepared statements to be sent to Austin TV stations, similar to the letters that went to TV stations across the country that threatened the IRS. Lofton’s headquarters for the operation was an old rented house on Austin’s east side, only four miles from the downtown area.
Pops and Dyson spent the entire night preparing the Rangers to intercede, and the crew member was told to go back and join Lofton so as not to create suspicion that could cause Lofton to cancel the operation.
With all the Rangers, Austin police and DPS officers in place, Pops’ response went into action as soon as Simpson’s private plane touched down. Simpson was traveling on a Texas grocery store magnate’s private jet, accompanied by other Chamber business leaders.
Pops sat in an SUV positioned just two miles from the rented house where Lofton was to stage his operation. Pops’ plan was to intercede as soon as Simpson arrived, before he could be in jeopardy. Dyson was dispatched to the area of the governor’s mansion to monitor progress there. Pops and Dyson debated for an hour whether to give the governor advance warning, but both decided Strasburg was so unreliable that he would blow the cover somehow.
At exactly 9:05 a.m., the Texas Rangers and Austin SWAT moved into position to swarm the safe house. The Lofton crew member who had disclosed the operation was inside the house and in charge of monitoring communications, including police scanners. Pops had directed the entire team to radio silence other than cell phones. It would be relatively easy for Lofton’s crew member to alert Pops’ Rangers when the time was right to storm the home; however, Pops was fully aware of Lofton’s experience and ability to fight back―under any scenario. He knew full well that the likelihood of a raid like this on Lofton was almost certain to result in bloodshed.
There were only four crew members in the house with Lofton. At 9:15, SWAT officers were to launch tear gas canisters through the home’s windows, along with percussion grenades to disorient Lofton and his team. At the exact same moment, other SWAT and Rangers would descend on the snipers positioned near the governor’s mansion and on Lofton’s mobile team, whose plan to take out Simpson was to pull up beside Simpson and his entourage. It was critical for the raids to happen simultaneously.
One minute before the raid was to take place, the crew member who had approached Pops drew his weapon on the others in the safe house. He knew how Lofton would react with a SWAT raid. He knew people would die. He immediately called Dyson and told him to stand down on the concussion grenades and tear gas. He asked them to enter the house quickly, as he had a gun drawn on Lofton and the others.
Lofton was incensed and he figured at some point he would make a play for his weapon, but he never did. He continued to shout at the crew member as SWAT and the Rangers stormed the home and quickly restrained him. Lofton was placed in handcuffs as he shouted “Traitor” to his crew member.
At the exact time the team entered the east Austin safe house, the Rangers executed their plan on the other two operations meant to kill Strasburg and Simpson. Their raids were also successful, and they arrested Lofton’s crews without a single shot being fired. Simpson and Strasburg were stunned at the turn of events. Simpson was brought to the governor’s mansion, where both met with Pops and Dyson to be debriefed on the situation.
“I demand to know why I wasn’t informed of this plot!” yelled an enraged Strasburg. “Did you use me and the senator as bait, Younger?”
“You’re welcome, Governor,” said Pops simply.
“How long did you know about this?” asked Senator Simpson.
“Less than twenty-four hours,” answered Dyson.
“That was certainly long enough for you to tell us. I should relieve of you of your command right this minute, Younger,” snarled the governor.
“That’s certainly your prerogative, sir.” Pops calmly pulled out a small chunk of Copenhagen and put it in his mouth as if he didn’t give a crap what the governor was threatening.
“Governor,” Dyson interjected, “we simply didn’t have time. If you would have changed your schedule in the slightest manner or added security to your detail or done anything differently, Lofton would have sensed it and we would not have been afforded this opportunity to arrest him and his crew.”
“Still, we should have known,” Strasburg retorted. “It doesn’t mean we would have changed a thing. You Rangers still think you are cowboys who can chart their own course, do what you like. I can assure you that’s going to change.”
“Are you finished yapping like a damned Chihuahua now, Governor?” Pops asked. “We’ve got a good man in federal custody and I’d like to clear his name as soon as possible, and get him out of jail and back home with his wife and son. I believe you will find Lofton quite the witness. He’s damned proud of his actions and will admit to all the IRS shenanigans,” said Pops.
“They aren’t letting Zach Turner out if that’s what you think, Younger. He’s still a suspect in the Dallas mass shooting,” stated Simpson.
“You both know I’ve been doing our own investigation of that shooting, separate from the feds. I think we both know who’s behind that shooting.”
“You’re
out of your mind, Younger. You should have retired long ago,” snapped Strasburg.
“Let me tell you, Governor, how the cow ate the cabbage. By the time we are done, both of you are going to wish Lofton had been successful in his little plot. At least then both of you would be considered some sort of heroes and at least be given a state funeral. From what I know, you both are going to be wearing those little orange jump suits for a very long stretch,” laughed Pops as he started to walk toward the front door of the governor’s mansion.
“You’ve lost it, Younger. I want your resignation on my desk by 0800 tomorrow morning,” demanded Strasburg.
Pops turned back to the governor and walked right up to his face and fixated his steel blue eyes on him, “Strasburg, let me tell you somethin’. I ain’t never quit nothin’ in my entire life. But I will tell you this. If my last official act as a Texas Ranger is to fit a pair of shackles to you, then I’ll leave the Rangers happier than a pig in a poke!”
Pops then turned and walked out the door with Dyson and his Rangers.
Chapter 61
“It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once.”
- David Hume (1711-1776)
Scottish Philosopher & Historian
The media pounced on the story coming out of Austin of a major assassination attempt on the Texas governor and U.S. Senator Simpson. The left-wing journalists seized on the opportunity to denounce the Texas independence movement as far-right wingnuts who were racist terrorists.
There was no hiding the fact that the media and politicians were using this latest news story to call for more gun control. They continued to ignore any evidence whatsoever that the Free Texas movement didn’t have a single link to the Dallas mass shooting.
The anti-gun fervor had crested to a popularity level never seen before in the United States and even the GOP sensed the public shift of sentiment start to cave―similar to the huge swing in acceptance of gay marriage, only much, much faster.
The White House indicated that the president was going to speak to the country live at 7:00 p.m. the day after the Austin arrests in front of a joint session of Congress. The administration knew it could seize on the opportunity to present what appeared to be a consensus between Congress and the administration in front of all Americans.
In amazing fashion, staunch 2nd Amendment defenders―especially those on the right―started contradicting previously held positions, even going so far as to refuse future donations from the NRA. The once-powerful NRA lobby was beginning to lose its grip on congressmen and senators who had vigorously defended them before and in return received donations. A sea change in a fundamental piece of the Bill of Rights was beginning to be shaken to the core.
Similar to a State of the Union address, Bartlett made her way down the aisle of the Joint Session of Congress, glad-handing all those who acknowledged her. It took almost ten minutes for her to make her way down to the main podium.
“Mr. Speaker, Mr. Vice President, members of Congress, distinguished guests and fellow Americans:
“The Declaration of Independence eloquently stated, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
“For too long, similar to our country’s dark period of slavery, those inalienable Rights were not allotted to all Americans. Children go to school scared of the next mass shooting. Just a few short weeks ago, a far-right Texas nationalist militia group killed over eight hundred, including hundreds of children, at a literacy fair. Our nation has the most gun violence in the civilized world.
“The violence has reached a tipping point. We have witnessed the death of federal agents in a state that has proudly embedded the gun culture into its society, which was a factor in those deaths. This same culture evolved into a serious Constitutional crisis, which I’m proud to say this administration has solved.
“We have witnessed the assassination of IRS Commissioner Ivan Stanislau. Just yesterday, a diabolical plot to murder a sitting governor, as well as a U.S. senator who supported our efforts to quell the crisis, was averted by the quick actions of law enforcement. This same group terrorized federal employees with bombs at local IRS offices.
“Enough is enough. Americans have had enough of this gun culture. Congress has had enough of this gun culture. And, frankly, I’ve had enough of this gun culture.”
The entire body of Congress stood up and gave Bartlett a five-minute standing ovation.
“Of all of the Bill of Rights that were so brilliantly crafted, the 2nd Amendment has always been one that was left open to broad interpretations. For those that want to see it literally, instead of as a living and breathing part of the Constitution, I’ll just say to you that the Supreme Court has allowed limitations and regulations, and we are confident that new regulations will stand the scrutiny of the Supreme Court.”
Another round of applause occurred, but this time only about half of Congress stood during the ovation.
“Tomorrow I will sign an executive order dealing with new gun regulations, which will be the most stringent and strictest in our country’s history. These measures will include:
“The immediate ban on assault weapons as defined in the order. This includes the sale and possession of assault weapons and semi-automatic weapons.
No longer will any local law enforcement agency be allowed to issue permits for machine guns or suppressors.
New federal firearms applications will now have a means-testing component for any weapon that contains a magazine or can fire more than six shots. A citizen requesting a permit or license to own a firearm that is not identified as a firearm used for hunting purposes and has more than six shots, such as a revolver, will have to prove they have a legitimate need for the weapon.
All concealed handgun and open carry laws from any of the fifty states are hereby rescinded. You must reapply for any firearms you intend to keep. If you receive a permit for a firearm, it must be stored in your home or place of business, have a trigger lock attached at all times, and be kept under lock and key.
Gun manufacturing companies will now be potentially liable for damages for all accidental and intentional shootings. I will ask Congress to enact legislation to this effect immediately.”
Congress again erupted in applause. Bartlett waited for the applause to die down before continuing.
“Parents or guardians whose children access any weapons at home and commit a crime or an accidental shooting will be subject to criminal penalties.
Any unregistered firearms are now required to be registered.
The transfer of any firearm privately will require a federal background check or both parties will be subject to criminal prosecution.
Gun shows will no longer have this private transaction loophole, as every sale will have to have the FFL check. Gun shows will provide a registry of attendees that is maintained by the ATF.
The purchase of ammunition will be limited to no more than twenty-five rounds every six months, except shotgun shells for hunting that shall be limited to one hundred for the same period.
Ammunition purchases will also require an FFL permit.
Ammunition manufacturers will be required to inscribe each ammunition round produced with a unique serial number for tracking purposes within twelve months.”
Bartlett paused again to allow for applause, then continued, “If some of these measures had already been in effect, these militia groups that took the life of heroic federal agents would likely not have been possible,” she stated. “Our Founding Fathers, who saw the need for the 2nd Amendment during the birth of our nation from a tyrannical king, could never have envisioned the advancement of these weapons that literally took several minutes to load and arm to these high-powered automatic and semi-automatic weapons used to kill American children. I’m sure if they were with us today, they would be standing right behind me, urging me to sign these orders and imploring C
ongress to act.”
Again, Congress stood and applauded, with the exception of a smattering of congressmen, congresswomen, and senators who knew their constituencies would have major issues with these orders.
“And finally, I will ask Congress to move to call a Convention of States in order to permanently fix the 2nd Amendment so that future generations never have to face what American children have faced in their schools and on those fairgrounds in Dallas!”
Now Congress roared, although catcalls came from the gallery, and congressmen and congresswomen from some Southern and Western states.
Pops Younger sat in Dyson’s office, chewing on a cigar while watching the president’s address with Dyson and several other Texas Rangers at DPS headquarters in northwest Austin. Later that same day, as fate would have it, were the funerals of Will and Beard in Houston.
“Have we really come so far that we have Congress standing up and applauding the demise of the frickin 2nd Amendment?” Dyson wondered out loud.
“I guess those kids were right about that Deep State thing,” Pops responded.
“Never would have figured, but they sure have the numbers at the Supreme Court to shoot down challenges to Bartlett’s executive orders. That little event out there in the Gulf had far-reaching consequences,” said Dyson.
“It’ll never stand here. Never. Probably not in a few other places, either,” stated Pops as he pulled on his handlebar mustaches.
“It’s diabolical, the whole damn thing,” reasoned Dyson.
“I’ll tell you this―just about the time she thinks she’s solved this Texas Crisis, she does the one dad-burned thing that will stir it back up again like a rattler in a basket full of yellow jackets. She thinks she’s gonna take Texans’ guns? I’ll never git to retire,” lamented Pops.
“Couple that with Ottosson’s admissions and we’ll have a full-blown crisis on our hands, Pops, that makes the last one look as tame as a yard goat. I sure as hell wish we’d get a call telling us they found Ottosson’s body in that damned lake.”
Purge on the Potomac Page 38
