Caught In Cross-Fire, Militia Will Disband

The Central Oregon Militia is disbanding in the backlash of the Oklahoma City bombing, but members plan to continue to conduct forums on constitutional rights and the federal government.

“Due to the linkage between the word militia and the bombing and right-wing radicals and hate mongers, we are considering how effective we can be,” Jim Purvis, regional commander of the militia, said Friday.

Purvis said seven members of the regional command voted May 3 to cease military exercises and five members of the Deschutes Brigade met this week in a Bend restaurant and voted to do the same.