For-Profit Business of Training Guns-for-hire is Literally Booming In Rural America

The last US soldier to leave Afghanistan returned home this August, but private security personnel long outnumbered US troops in that war, and the for-profit business of training guns-for-hire is booming -- literally -- in the backyards of many rural Americans. In this special episode, The Laura Flanders Show travels to the tiny town of Hoffman in Richmond County, NC, where residents live next to a loud private training ground.They have real concerns about who is receiving training there and why, especially after the January 6th Insurrection at the Capitol. Laura interviews Hoffman’s Mayors and one of the County Commissioners who approved the permit for Oak Grove Technologies’ tactical training site. They regret that approval now. And we travel to nearby Hoke County, where a diverse coalition of local stakeholders — and an all-POC County Commission — were able to stop the expansion of Reservoir International, another training outfit seeking to expand its footprint near the county seat of Raeford. “The latter is an example of the power of community organizing,” says Serena Sebring of Blueprint NC. Blueprint is partnering with a statewide network of veteran ant-racist, anti-militia organizers to pool information and lift up local strategies for making communities safer. 
 

“I don't think it's worthwhile for the county period. And it's really not good for the town of Hoffman. [We need to tell these private paramilitary training groups that]. We don't need you anymore…  Go back to the military, go back to camp McCall, go back to Fort Bragg... Don't let the civilians takeover military. We don't need it. “ 

Don Bryant

Guests

Donald Bryant, Richmond County Commissioner

Tommy Hart, Mayor Hoffman, NC

Daniel Kelly, Mayor Pro Tempore, Hoffman, NC

Danielle Purifoy, Assistant Professor, Dept of Geography, UNC Chapel Hill

Harry Southerland, Chairman, Hoke County Board of Commissioners

Christina Davis McCoy, Former Executive Director, North Carolinians Against Racist and Religious Violence

Jim Davis, Former Sheriff, Hoke County, NC

Serena Sebring, Executive Director, BluePrint NC

NOTE:  This podcast originally aired Fall of 2021.  Listen to our most recent episode as a follow up:  'The Forgotten Coup, January 6th & the Small Town Americans on the Frontlines of Democracy'

Laura Flanders and Friends Crew:  Laura Flanders, along with Sabrina Artel, Jeremiah Cothren, Veronica Delgado, Janet Hernandez, Jeannie Hopper, Gina Kim, Sarah Miller, Nat Needham, David Neuman, and Rory O’Conner. 

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ACCESSIBILITY - The broadcast edition of this episode is available with closed captioned by clicking here for our YouTube Channel