A press statement released by the Stanley campaign Wednesday states that if lawmakers fail to address grievances listed in petitions collected by Stanley, that inaction could "result in the activation of the '2nd American Revolution Militia' . . . to insure that the current U.S. government will comply with the boundaries outlined in the Constitution."

The statement also urges U.S. armed forces to join the effort.

Regarding the press statement, Stanley said, "I stand behind that 100 percent."

The group Stanley dubbed the 2nd American Revolution Militia would be made up of like-minded people attending the Million Gun March, he said. That event is sponsored by Stanley, and is scheduled to take place in Washington on July 4, 2003.

"There are 140 million gun owners in the United States," Stanley said. "There are a lot of people who also believe in the Second Amendment."

Boulder County Libertarian Party Chairman Joe Johnson said that though members of the party would like to see gun-control laws repealed, Stanley's press release runs counter to a sworn oath members of the state party take.

"What I gathered by the statement is that he endorses violence to achieve his political goals," Johnson said. "The idea of advocating armed revolution is counter to the party."

The party's oath states that members "do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force" to achieve social or political goals.

Stanley said he has not initiated violence against the country, but has simply said it is an option.

"Should I ever come to a point where I have to initiate violence to defend my country, at that point I would announce publicly that I was renouncing my oath to remain a Libertarian Party member," Stanley said.

"I'm not saying that ever has to happen, but it might," he added.

John Berntson, the party's state chairman, spoke with Stanley regarding the press statement, but was "still unclear" as to Stanley's intent following that conversation.

"It makes it sound like Mr. Stanley is calling for armed rebellion of some sort," Berntson said. "That is something the party is strictly against."

He added that the party has no way to discipline Stanley. The party's state board is "split" on the matter, he said.

"This will probably factor into how we choose a Senate candidate," Berntson said.

He noted that former El Paso County Libertarian Party chairman Stephen J. D'Ippolito intends to run in the party primary in Leadville in July.

Stanley had not previously faced a party challenge.

In May, Stanley will face charges in a Denver court for openly displaying a loaded, holstered handgun in a park. That act of protest, which took place in December, was meant to bring attention to the erosion of the Second Amendment, according to Stanley.