Norman Olson
Encyclopedia
Norman Olson is an American
militia movement activist. Olson is a Baptist
minister and retired United States Air Force
non-commissioned officer originally from Alanson
, Michigan
. In 1994, he and Ray Southwell founded the Michigan Militia
, an organized paramilitary
group established in response to perceived threats on the rights of citizens by the federal government
, specifically what they perceived was then-President Bill Clinton
's desire to pass strict gun control
laws. Olson owned a 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) wooded property in Northern Michigan
which served as the militia's training base, where members learned paramilitary skills.
Olson drew the attention of the U.S. government to himself and the Michigan Militia when he reported that Oklahoma City bombing
accomplice Terry Nichols
had attended one of his meetings. He also claimed that the bombing was carried out by the government of Japan
in retaliation for a sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
, which Olson claimed was perpetrated by the United States. The conspiracy theory
was deemed so extreme by fellow militiamen that he was expelled from the Michigan Militia after losing four elections for commander.
Also in 1995, Olson testified about the militia movement to the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security
.
In 2000, Olson ordered militias across the United States to defend the Indianapolis Baptist Temple
, whose property was to be seized after multiple failures to pay taxes. He ordered militia to surround the church to prevent the government from entering, and claimed the incident could be "Waco II
".
In 2004, Olson purchased 22 acres (89,030.9 m²) near Nikiski
, Alaska
, on the Kenai Peninsula
, where he and Southwell moved with their families. Upon moving to Nikiski, Olson and Southwell attempted to establish an Alaska Citizens Militia, though reports have indicated no members joined after 20 attended an introductory meeting in September 2009.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
militia movement activist. Olson is a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister and retired United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
non-commissioned officer originally from Alanson
Alanson, Michigan
Alanson is a village in Emmet County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 785.Alanson is in Littlefield Township on U.S. Highway 31 at the junction with M-68. Petoskey is about southwest on US 31 and Mackinaw City and the Mackinac Bridge are about north...
, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. In 1994, he and Ray Southwell founded the Michigan Militia
Michigan Militia
The Michigan Militia was an organized paramilitary organization founded by Norman Olson, a former U.S. Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer, of Alanson, Michigan, USA. The organization formed around 1994 in response to perceived encroachments by the Federal Government on the rights of citizens during...
, an organized paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
group established in response to perceived threats on the rights of citizens by the federal government
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
, specifically what they perceived was then-President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
's desire to pass strict gun control
Gun control
Gun control is any law, policy, practice, or proposal designed to restrict or limit the possession, production, importation, shipment, sale, and/or use of guns or other firearms by private citizens...
laws. Olson owned a 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) wooded property in Northern Michigan
Northern Michigan
Northern Michigan, also known as Northern Lower Michigan , is a region of the U.S. state of Michigan...
which served as the militia's training base, where members learned paramilitary skills.
Olson drew the attention of the U.S. government to himself and the Michigan Militia when he reported that Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
accomplice Terry Nichols
Terry Nichols
Terry Lynn Nichols is a convicted bomber's accomplice. Prior to his incarceration, he held a variety of short-term jobs, working as a farmer, grain elevator manager, real estate salesman, ranch hand, and house husband. He met his future co-conspirator, Timothy McVeigh, during a brief stint in the...
had attended one of his meetings. He also claimed that the bombing was carried out by the government of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in retaliation for a sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
The Sarin attack on the Tokyo subway, usually referred to in the Japanese media as the , was an act of domestic terrorism perpetrated by members of Aum Shinrikyo on March 20, 1995....
, which Olson claimed was perpetrated by the United States. The conspiracy theory
Conspiracy theory
A conspiracy theory explains an event as being the result of an alleged plot by a covert group or organization or, more broadly, the idea that important political, social or economic events are the products of secret plots that are largely unknown to the general public.-Usage:The term "conspiracy...
was deemed so extreme by fellow militiamen that he was expelled from the Michigan Militia after losing four elections for commander.
Also in 1995, Olson testified about the militia movement to the United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security
United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security
The United States Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security is one of seven subcommittees within the Senate Judiciary Committee.-Jurisdiction:...
.
In 2000, Olson ordered militias across the United States to defend the Indianapolis Baptist Temple
Indianapolis Baptist Temple
The Indianapolis Baptist Temple is an Independent Baptist church based in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The church's building was seized by the U.S. federal government after the church refused to withhold taxes from employees' paychecks for 16 years....
, whose property was to be seized after multiple failures to pay taxes. He ordered militia to surround the church to prevent the government from entering, and claimed the incident could be "Waco II
Waco Siege
The Waco siege began on February 28, 1993, and ended violently 50 days later on April 19. The siege began when the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms attempted to execute a search warrant at the Branch Davidian ranch at Mount Carmel, a property located east-northeast of Waco,...
".
In 2004, Olson purchased 22 acres (89,030.9 m²) near Nikiski
Nikiski, Alaska
Nikiski is a census-designated place in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska, United States. The population was 4,327 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Nikiski is located at ....
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, on the Kenai Peninsula
Kenai Peninsula
The Kenai Peninsula is a large peninsula jutting from the southern coast of Alaska in the United States. The name Kenai is probably derived from Kenayskaya, the Russian name for Cook Inlet, which borders the peninsula to the west.-Geography:...
, where he and Southwell moved with their families. Upon moving to Nikiski, Olson and Southwell attempted to establish an Alaska Citizens Militia, though reports have indicated no members joined after 20 attended an introductory meeting in September 2009.