Patriot Passing a Reminder of Harsh Punishments for Defying Gun Infringements

Hollis Wayne Fincher, R.I.P. (Photo credit: Militia of Washington County)
Hollis Wayne Fincher, R.I.P. (Photo credit: Militia of Washington County)

U.S.A. – -(Ammoland.com)- “Hollis Wayne Fincher, 73 of Fayetteville, passed away on Monday, September 16, 2019, at Washington Regional Medical Center in Fayetteville, AR,” the Madison County Funeral Service obituary announced. “He loved his God and his Country. He loved to go Colorado elk hunting. He enjoyed making guns, knives, bows, and cannons. He loved life.”

He did make guns, and because of that, the government stole a significant portion of Fincher’s life from him.  Instead of obeying their “shall not be infringed” mandate, those in power will crush anyone claiming his birthright to keep and bear arms in an unapproved manner.

Because he exercised his right to keep and bear arms, the government sentenced Wayne Fincher to “6 1/2 years in federal prison for possessing banned weapons, including machine guns and a sawed-off shotgun.” When Fincher’s wife died a year before his scheduled release, he was denied a furlough to attend her funeral.

This will be a new story to most of you, but it’s one that began in early November 2006, when Fincher was arrested by “[t]eams of special agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), assisted by other federal, state and local law enforcement officers.” The arrest followed “an eight-month investigation relating to the unlawful manufacture, possession and transfer of machine guns…conducted under Project Safe Neighborhoods, the U.S. Department of Justice initiative that combines federal state and local resources to combat violent gun crime.”

Fincher did have some guns, as was his right under any fair reading of Founding intent, but he certainly wasn’t violent. As an aside, that’s one of the main reasons why some of us have long been against federal programs like “Project Exile” that criminalize gun possession rather than gun abuses, and argued against NRA joining hands with the Brady Campaign to laud and promote such edicts.

Back to Fincher’s story, how he got on ATF’s radar began years before his arrest. He was a member of the Militia of Washington County, a group of patriotic armed Americans who had tried, for years, too keep authorities, including Gov. Mike Huckabee, informed, exercising their right to petition for peaceful redress. The pleaded for recognition of supposedly Constitutionally-guaranteed rights through a declaratory document presenting their arguments:

“The Silver Bullet” The Militia of Washington County, Arkansas Presents: A Public Notice of Discovery, Findings, and Facts Constituting A Cause of Action, Cause, Case, And Claims: A Formal Rebuttal to the Validity of the National Firearms Act of 1934.

In response, they were completely ignored by public servants criminally derelict in their duty to honor their oaths of office, and by the media, who they had pleaded with to take notice.

Fincher’s trials and travails were documented extensively at the time by my The War on Guns blog, the United States vs. Fincher blog and a few others, but disappointingly received very little attention from most other “gun bloggers.”  A sentiment I saw more than once was that some found it more in their “pragmatic” political interests to ignore him  — and that’s putting it nicely.

So why did Fincher get caught up in a battle he had no chance of winning? Perhaps this character assessment from one of his friends is about as close as we will get to understanding:

“Though Wayne is well-versed in the Second Amendment, he does not understand much of the workings of the legal world. He is not at all familiar with the Federal Court system and its processes. Moreover, Wayne is very straightforward and does not really understand those who are not. He has a difficult time conceiving that the people he deals with would be fundamentally dishonest with him (this is why he never ran the Confidential Informant off, even when warned about the man by his nephew and wife). Thus, he does not understand how his statements can be twisted to mean something entirely different than what he meant and stated.”

Some will no doubt still side with the “pragmatists” and criticize, if not outright condemn Fincher’s actions. Just to be consistent though, they should also be prepared to take sides against “I will not comply” activists who refuse to obey magazine bans in states like Connecticut. They should repudiate Thoreau’s classic “On the Duty of Civil Disobedience,” and advocate that Rosa Parks should have stayed at the back of the bus. And importantly, when Dianne Feinstein says, “Turn ‘em all in, Mr. and Mrs. America,” and Beto’s “Hell yes!” confiscation teams show up, it will be on them to…how did NRA put it?

“Bill did what any honest, law-abiding American would do…he turned in his SKS Sporter to the police.”

Wayne Fincher had a different line in the sand than most of us, and as I said at the time:

If I thought getting arrested to make a Second Amendment claim was a winning strategy, I’d arrange it myself. You’ll notice I haven’t.

That’s because I can’t help but note how fractured the “gun community” is, and how little support the boat-rockers can expect. If every one of us did what Fincher did, there would be no more gun control laws in this country. Because we will not stand up en masse, any one of us who does will be cut down.

Think what you will of Wayne Fincher. I choose to remember him with admiration for his principles and his courage. I will mourn the man and take a measure of comfort that our paths in life crossed.


About David Codrea:David Codrea

David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament. He blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” is a regularly featured contributor to Firearms News, and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.

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nrringlee

Will we be the first generation to tell our grandchildren “I remember when America was free……………..?”

Littlejohn1411

My father was 52 when I was born and said that very quote to me on several occasions growing up.

Wild Bill

@Stuck, your father was right. When I bought my first gun the only paperwork was a receipt, and no one put my name on a list.

Littlejohn1411

I remember him telling me about how he used to walk a few miles with one of his rifles to a field and hunt groundhogs every so often and he was maybe 13. I was young and even then I said Jesus, you can’t do that anymore. It amazes me how much society has changed in 50 years.

Dave in Fairfax

I used the back yard and the swamp behind it. No walking needed.

Dave in Fairfax

That was my first paperwork as well. Western auto. Then he asked me if my parents knew that I was spending my lawn mowing money on it. I told him, “They will.”

willyd

Dave in Fairfax: Times have passed and much has changed, My first paperwork was at Nestor’s Sporting Goods back in the early 60’s, at 14 I purchased my first shotgun, the guy behind the counter asked if I would be able to handle it, my answer was if I’m buying it I’m going to find a way, I then told them that my mom was going to make sure of that, she was standing right there with me when I bought it. My dad wasn’t happy about it at all, but mom and grand mom were all for it, and… Read more »

Wild Bill

@wjd, yes, that is true. There was little concern because all the systems and roles in our society worked properly.

JPM

I tell my kids what it was like to hear the stories of life in the USSR back in the 50s and 60s and all the freedom we had back then in the USA. Today, it’s like we swapped places with the USSR and the USA reminds me more of the stories we heard back then of the USSR. We have lost a little at a time, slowly but surely.

Ej harbet

In 2013 i spent 2 weeks in siberia,my only weapons were a multitool and a oak walking stick i made with it.the man who became my brother in law was a senior lieutenant in the mvd politsya
The national police force of russia. He had to turn his makarov pistol Into the armory before he went home to his family.news from my family there is russia is even less free now.
If we lose the war here theres no other place to go,,,,,

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

Our generation has NEVER been free. Actually no generation LIVING has ever been free. Freedom was stolen in 1903 and 1913. We are ARMED SLAVES and need to admit it. Be a good slave and you can keep what guns they decide we can keep.

Will Flatt

Noncompliance is not just desperately needed, IT IS OUR MORAL DUTY. However, we must make sure that there are LOTS of people who are likewise engaging in said noncompliance, and most of all, everyone needs to be organized with others whom you can literally trust with your life (because you WILL) and covenant with one another to come to each others’ aid when SHTF.

RoyD

I have said for decades: “Make sure the boat you are in can handle the waves you are about to make.”

Dave in Fairfax

All you need are ships of wood and men of iron.

Klim

A rare commodity these days.
Sadly my sons generation will be the ones that learn the hard lesson, that you can vote your way into socialism but you’ll have to shoot your way out.
I only hope we don’t die too soon and leave this fight to our kids and grand kids. They’re going to need us.

Bill

David, great stuff man!!!! Gun owners as a whole remind me of RINOs, fractured and scared and only want to be concerned with what concerns them and to hell with everybody else.
No solidarity.

BowserB

Bingo. Nailed it. “They’re not coming for my guns. It’s you assault weapons and hi cap pistol people who are the problem, so I’m not worried.” One hundred million gun owners could carry every election. So many, though, especially rural, southern, and union people (and their spouses), have “always” voted Democrat. I don’t know how we can change generations of illogical political thinking.

Dave in Fairfax

I’m impressed that he thinks that they are scared. Projection perhaps. Regardless, everyone gets to chose their hill to die on. This may well be it for a number of those “scared” individuals. Countries have been built on such.

KenW

I will agree with you to some extent and that is not scared but complacent. When you consider that only about 50% of the population votes, there must be a good portion of gun owners not voting. Not to defend the NRA, but a large proportion of gun owners do not contribute one dollar to support the Second Amendment. You are correct about solidarity, but the truth is today its a so-called assault weapon, tomorrow its those “sniper rifles” used to shoot Bambi. Ten rounds, no make it five, poof no more revolvers. The wording in Feinstein’s assault weapons bill… Read more »

karnage

Sad commentary on the passing of a patriot, by the great David Codrea.

Littlejohn1411

Sounds like a true patriot and gentleman, I’m sorry our lives never passed, have a feeling I would have really enjoyed his company.

TheRevelator

Well Folks, I’ve had an interesting two weeks and it appears I missed a crap ton here. With some of the news recently, maybe this will make you feel a bit better about your week. Two weeks ago in the middle of typing a response to a lying idiot known as “MyOathIsAntifa” when my internet went down. Had a nasty metal fire that ended up taking some lines down(Still live where they are above ground) since they were more concerned about saving the 5 or 6 million dollar crane on site. Early that week we also had a plane crash… Read more »

TheRevelator

@wjd

Thanks, its been a bit of a bumpy ride. When it rains it pours, but all you can do is lace up and wade out of the mud to reach dry ground.

I see you and several others were witness to that oh so fun Coward named tetejuan going on a tear. Just got to read some of his comments. Can’t fix stupid certainly applies there.

Wild Bill

@Rev, Welcome back. Sorry to hear all those difficulties came at once. I will never complain, again. Well …. maybe … just when it is called for.

TheRevelator

@Wild Bill

Just Remember what Churchhill said. When the going gets rough and you have to fight, start grinning. 🙂 I used some of my extra wait time to do a little book diving and exercise the cranial muscle.

Glad you are still around and doing well, thanks for the welcom. Any luck on the holster for that Bulldog?

Wild Bill

@Rev, Yes, I did. It was luck and nothing that I did. It was the kind of coincidence that only God can arrange. An old fellow, that we visit on Sundays needed money. He used to be a shooter, and I think, a good one. He wanted to sell me some things including a Ruger flap holster made by Bianchi. I bought all his stuff at the price that he insisted on … no negotiations. Just paid him. Not what I was expecting on a Sunday. Turned out that the 4 inch Bulldog target fit in the Ruger flap holster,… Read more »

TheRevelator

@Wild Bill
In the words a wise man once said, “The lord works in mysterious ways.”

Glad you got that sorted out and were able to help a good guy out at the same time. 🙂

tomcat

@ Rev. Sorry to hear of your problems. I just had 12 trees taken down, ash bugs got them, and it cost a pretty penny to have that done but I don’t feel I am a lumberjack any more. I know what you mean about “widow makers.”

TheRevelator

@tomcat Too bad it cost you. Hardwoods you can get free labor if there is free firewood in it up here farther north. That’s where that wood is going though, we donated the labor, and the wood is going to heat the home of a guy we knew from church who’s had 6 back surgeries and is now fully disabled after a bad fall that almost killed him. If you want a chuckle about it, this was a 200 year old (maybe older) oak that had a base diameter of about 5 feet. The limb that got struck by lightning… Read more »

tomcat

@ Rev. You are talking about a BIG tree. I don’t blame you for not wanting to handle a chainsaw for a while. Good use for the wood for a deserving person. Because we don’t have as much winter here firewood is not as valuable. They hauled off the main trunks and left the limbs back in the woods so I will cut some of them up to heat my basement with. I hope your dog is doing well they are very close to being people but don’t judge you and are always happy to see you.

TheRevelator

@tomcat

It was a Feline, but she is doing well now. That is the trouble with cats, they give you no warning. Most times with a dog there are signs.

Would love to have a dog, but its just me here right now, and as much as I work it would not be fair to leave it cooped up in the house all day, or chained in the backyard. Maybe if the country doesn’t blow up in the next year or two, I’ll fence in my yard.

Take care.

Ansel Hazen

If you lived in my neighborhood sir you would find me covering your flank.

TheRevelator

Thanks,

willyd

TheRevelator; Welcome back , your right about the lord works in some strange ways, I went through mine late May through July, now looking forward to a trip home in October, then the return to move into a new house before Winter!

TheRevelator

@willyd

Thanks. Hope you can get everything taken care of before Christmas my friend.

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

“Sammy used to love homegrown green beans” said the man sitting next to me at the dinner table refering to the beans that my wife had cooked us for dinner that evening. When I hear him say that I almost choked on mine. Sammy was a 14 year old boy who had heard his dog barking and thought he had stirred up a dear. Sammy ran out with his rifle to check what the dog was barking at. About the time he reached the area where the dog was a man dressed all up in camouflage shot his friend and… Read more »

Littlejohn1411

I’ve been waiting for a true militia here in ct ever since I could own a firearm, why, because even at a young age I believed in the constitution and bill of rights. After many years I saw that a so-called militia Called the 3 percent was having a drive collecting items for I believe Katrina victims. So I went and talked to as many people as I could to see what the deal was. I’m sorry to say but what I saw was a bunch of gun wavers, most not that bright, kind of reminded me of the local… Read more »

freewill

I think theres a CT. 51st..The left sure dont like em,LOL

Littlejohn1411

Would you happen to have a website or other way of communication?

freewill

Not familiar with that area, All States have organized and General, the last I knew there was a combined force of 40 million, It shouldnt be to hard to find them

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

The last you heard? Where did you get this information? I can’t find it anywhere.

Despite what MSM has told us, They are not weekend drunks carrying 30.06, Heres some examples…Tri state commanders met during Waco, should they intervene?..Janet Reno got wind of it and burned the place down before any decisions were made..Two people were outside the compound and not let in and left, later ATF was after them when a militia unit caught them and moved them all over the west, never staying in one place longer than two days, theyre still alive..2nd..It was rumored the Janet Reno was going to strike the Militia of Montana, commanders said we’ll be waiting for you,… Read more »

Littlejohn1411

Just did a search on the 51’st and after reading where they are I realized I did ask around about them a few years back. Supposedly the guy that was or is running it is a kkk member. After hearing that and some other things I didn’t care to hear I didn’t try to contact anyone from the group. I’m not a racist and don’t want to be affiliated with any group that is. Hopefully I’ll be out of this corrupt anti everything state next summer not sure where I want to go but I’m thinking North or South Carolina.

freewill

That I dony know, MSM and other cronies label every body that resists them…Militias are guerillas, theyre not that easy to find…the 51st was just a suggestion to get you on your way, they may have contacts, go out in the woods and theyll probly find you LOL

Littlejohn1411

MSM? I hope the things I heard are just people spouting off lies but it’s the kind of stuff that gives groups worse publicity than they need. I gotta tell ya I’m in awe, amazed and sick to my stomach at the insanity that’s happening in our country. Certain politicians have always been nuts but what’s been going on in the last few years is just plain crazy and it’s all been caught, proven an the people just don’t care what they are doing to their country! It’s getting so bad these crazy politicians are pulling crap right out in… Read more »

freewill

I’m sure theres a line drawn somewhere,

Courageous Lion - Hear Me Roar - Jus Meum Tuebor

What needs to be done is that people need to get together with their county officials and for a county wide protection association. They can’t call themselves the “Militia” per se. Once enough counties do it, they would get together with their state representatives and REESTABLISH a state militia within that state. The man on the subject is Dr. Edwin Vierra…here is a youtube link to one of his presentations. Pass it around. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH9yrSpk-No

Rock

R.I.P. Mr. Fincher…..

Sir_Kickington

America is a breeding ground for money hungry power struck politicians and the likes.

JPM

Rest in Peace Brother. Damn BATFE and all the so-called people who work for and with them. Should it ever becomes possible, I hope and pray every one of them are the first ones made to pay for their crimes (Ruby Ridge, Waco, Fast & Furious, Hollis Fincher and thousands of other Americans).

Ej harbet

Janet reno is frying in hell as i write this!

John Dunlap

I hope that Mr. Codrea and everyone else here understands that it will soon be impossible to do anything other than either stand up as Mr. Fincher did, or capitulate completely. Passive resistance, even holding a dissenting viewpoint without voicing it, will be detected and punished. Your online viewing habits, your associations, your purchasing habits, even something as innocuous as having been in the vicinity of a political rally you didn’t have anything to do with ten years ago, are enough to put you in the crosshairs. To understand what I’m talking about, study what’s happening in China with the… Read more »

TheRevelator

@John Dunlap Dunlap Mr. Dunlap, I do understand what you are saying. Heck, read the last two paragraphs of my main comment here. My requirements have stayed the same. I will stand with anyone to defend their rights as long as they are not trying to control mine. Already knew about the Penn State professor and what he wrote, and Glenn Beck did an excellent job covering it on the radio yesterday. What we do not want however is a French style revolution. If you want to discuss this more, I’m more than happy to do so, and will be… Read more »

buzzy

Well said ! The writing is on the wall . It is just a matter of time. One will eventually have to defend their family and their selfs . The odds are stacked against those who respect the constitution and sorry to say the tide is not turning .The end goal is to control what and where you purchase ammunition and firearms , and track the transactions , and limit access to fire arms. Eventually underground sources will fill the voids left by commercial manufactures whom will be driven out . The next attempt will be to limit reloading supply’s… Read more »

Tionico

I believe it was John Adams testily declared :
If we don’t all hang together we surely will all hang separately.

One more case that he was correct in this observation

Whormd

Thank you for this article. I’m relatively new to firearms, and it will be interesting to learn more about this man.

tomcat

What kind of country has this become. Mr. Fincher didn’t kill anyone or do any other herenous things but they can’t even take him to his wife’s funeral. This is beyond any normal comprehension of decency. Of course red flag laws are against our Constitution and should be thrown out without any action being taken against the victim.

MICHAEL J

What we have are politicians and bureaucrats who are self-serving and have no intention of following the Constitution. It is so much easier to arrest patriots who have never been a threat to liberty or society than to go after those criminals including those same politicians who would deprive free Americans their rights. Democrats would have you believe that only they know what’s best and only you shall obey. What exactly does “Shall not be infringed” mean? Certainly not what you or I think it does. Those who are supposed to represent us will spin it into a different meaning… Read more »

Firewagon

With one third of America’s population being gun owners (100,000,000), there is NO excuse for having ALLOWED the infringements to our God Given Rights! We are almost as bad as that GOP (Grand Old Putzes), “compromising” with the devils that would control us. Sadly, we mirror that old adage: ‘First they came for the baker, but I wasn’t a baker, so I said/did nothing…..’

Core

We have a means to exchange information. We have a means to understand our constitutional rights. There is no longer a need to succumb to unconstitutional tyrants. But we must unite, and be unapologetic about our support for our guaranteed freedoms! Article VI!

Ironeyes

Used to live in that neck of the woods. Lot’s of good Americans there. RIP Wayne!!!

Bill

If gun owners actually coordinated with each other, rather than being “an army of 1”, we might actually have a voice. But the NRA, which I do support, wants people’s money and mild grassroots activity. I rarely see them calling for their members to be a public presence. I hear about their educational efforts, but they seem pretty quiet and way off to the side of daily life. Not being what they could be, nor doing what they could do, but instead working from the shadows, without standing much in the public square to restore a vision of what Americans… Read more »

freewill

John Paul Jones said:, My only regret is that I only have but one life to give for my country

Dave in Fairfax

Nathan Hale

freewill

Oh ya, my bad, I have yet to begin to fight..

Ej harbet

Right before the lobsterbacks hung him for Being a spy