Jim Arroyo arrived at Lucy’s Bar and Grill, known for its “best badass burger in town,” presenting himself in an Oath Keepers hoodie and a baseball cap. A short, stocky man with a white beard, he walked with a stick, and a pistol was visibly strapped to his waist.
He was accompanied by his wife, Janet, and together they led the Yavapai County Preparedness Team, a group they formed in response to the events of January 6, 2021. This organization operates as a corporate offshoot of the Oath Keepers militia, with a mission to prepare members for various potential crises, including civil unrest.
During their discussion, Arroyo expressed his belief that the upcoming election could spark a civil war, similar to conflicts seen in other nations. He claims to have trained over 1,000 members in survival tactics aimed at handling scenarios such as civil conflict and attacks on infrastructure.
Arroyo sees these preparations as vital, motivated by his conviction that there is a conspiracy to prevent Donald Trump from reclaiming the presidency. With the election on the horizon, he shared his concerns about the potential for violence and how he and his organization would respond to such situations.
The Yavapai County Preparedness Team focuses on a wide range of crisis scenarios, reflecting trends observed in paramilitary groups that often position themselves as essential for survival amid perceived societal breakdown.
Oath Keepers Offshoot Leader Warns of Civil War Threat Amid Election Tensions at Local Bar
As the election approached, civil war rhetoric intensified, with intelligence reports suggesting that this kind of language could incite individuals to violence. Arroyo attempted to distance his group from the negative connotations associated with the January 6th riots, portraying their mission as educational and centered on self-defense rather than aggression.
Having severed ties with the main Oath Keepers organization, Arroyo established the independent Oath Keepers of Yavapai County, functioning under the larger umbrella of the Yavapai County Preparedness Team.
This group also includes a political faction known as the Lions of Liberty. Despite the national decline of the Oath Keepers, Arroyo claimed to maintain active connections with local law enforcement, specifically Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes. This association raises concerns about the merging of paramilitary groups with local authorities in Arizona.
When discussing potential triggers for civil unrest, Arroyo took a seemingly balanced view, suggesting that both the political left and right could instigate violence. He speculated that if Trump were to lose, right-wing factions might react aggressively, leveraging their resources and training.
This perspective reflects a broader political narrative that often minimizes the threats posed by far-right groups, despite evidence indicating they are a significant source of domestic terrorism. Arroyo’s comments highlight the polarization present in contemporary political discussions.
The conversation also revealed Arroyo’s strong connections to Arizona’s gun culture, which he and Janet embraced after relocating from California to escape restrictive gun laws. He took pride in the prevalence of machine guns in Yavapai County, although statistics cast doubt on the accuracy of his claims.
A noteworthy incident during the meeting occurred when the bar staff informed him he had to remove his firearm, illustrating the tension between his personal beliefs and local regulations. This moment encapsulated the complexities faced by individuals in politically charged environments while holding strong convictions about their rights.
