Schaeffer Cox (born 1984) is an American political activist, the founder of the Alaska Peacemakers Militia.[1]
Cox was an attendee of Continental Congress 2009.[2] He was also an organizing member of the Fairbanks based Second Amendment Task Force.[3][4] In 2009 at gathering of the group he drafted a declaration that the United States Government must be abolished if the government further restricts gun rights. The declaration was signed by many including United States Representative Don Young.[5]
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Francis August Schaeffer Cox was born on February 11, 1984 to Gary and Jennifer Cox. Around the turn of the century, Cox's family moved to Alaska. He received a high school diploma in May, 2003 through the correspondence program CyberLynx. He then briefly studied business at The University of Alaska Fairbanks, before dropping out to start his own small construction company.[1]
Cox has reportedly identified himself as a member of the Sovereign citizen movement.[6][7][8]
In March 2010 Cox was arrested by state authorities in Alaska for "weapons misconduct" - failing to disclose a concealed weapon.[9] In the same month he was also accused of assaulting his wife; he pleaded guilty to reckless endangerment.[10]
In 2011 he was arrested for alleged involvement in a murder conspiracy known as "241" where two law enforcement officers were to be killed for each member of the Peacemakers Militia killed in anticipation of government action against Cox and weapons charges.[11][12]
In March 2011, Cox was arrested on federal charges in Fairbanks, Alaska, by the United States Marshals Service. He is currently charged with conspiracy to possess unregistered silencers and destructive devices, possession of an unregistered destructive device, possession of an unregistered silencer, possession of an unregistered machine gun, and other related charges under 18 U.S.C. § 371, 18 U.S.C. § 922 and 18 U.S.C. § 924 and Internal Revenue Code sections 5861(d), 5871, and 5861(f).[13]Also charged for involvement in the plot are Lonnie Vernon, Karen Vernon, Coleman Barney and Michael Anderson.[14] Cox's lawyers argued that the charges should be thrown out because the grand jury that served the indictment was flawed.[15]
In late October of 2011, all state charges against Cox and his fellow defendants were dismissed. The dismissals followed a court ruling that kept prosecutors from using, as evidence, secret FBI recordings made without a search warrant. According to Assistant District Attorney Dway McConnell, the state charges cannot be refiled. The dismissed charges include many of the most serious allegations, including conspiracy to commit murder. [4]
Cox continues to face the pending federal weapons charges. In November 2011, additional federal charges were brought against him. The new allegations relate to the alleged purchase of hand grenades and silencers, and alleged possession of a loaded grenade launcher.[16] Cox remains in jail, awaiting a trial scheduled for February 6, 2012.[17][18]
In 2008 he ran for the Alaska House of Representatives from House District 7.[19]
Cox was a supporter of Sarah Palin, but criticized her harshly over her stance on Real ID in 2008, saying "If Sarah Palin loses who she is, then I won't support her".[20]
Cox is said to be a close friend of Alaska politician Joe Miller,[21] although Cox has said that he did not support Miller in Miller's 2010 bid for United States Senate. Cox stated, "[Miller's] going to try to run things in a more conservative way, but he's still trying to run things -- so he has the same fundamental problem of all the other politicians".[22] After Cox was arrested, Miller sought to distance himself from Cox, releasing a statement saying "Mr. Miller has never had any connection to any of Mr. Cox's militia organizations, and in no way condones any lawless behavior."[23]