It has been reported that they have enough guns and explosives to maintain a ten year campaign . It is thought the group can call on up to 300 Active members. The organisation has six battalions- one in each county- with a command structure based on the British Army, they have been actively recruiting and training members, and there has been a constant supply of weapons paid for by wealthy supporters. A consignment of guns is believed to have landed in Ireland from eastern Europe within the last week.04-Feb-01

Orange Volunteers Back To War Statement, 4-Feb-01
"We feel we have no choice but to take up guns, The ceasefire is under review, many of our members want to end the ceasefire and go to war, make no mistake this is a serious situation. We do not want to take up guns but we feel we have no choice if we want to defend our people, our faith and our country. Our people have had enough we have given to much away. We have watched as as terrorism has been rewarded, Sinn Fein/IRA are winning at the moment. We don't want to lift the gun but any democrat ha s the right to lift arms in the defence of democracy. We have our own membership. We know that there is unrest in the ranks of the UVF but our security lies in the fact that we are incorruptible - we are not interested in drugs, prostitution or racketeering. The UVF are traditional defenders of localism - they are not fit to lace Edward Carsons' boots. There is a distinct fear that we are being frog-marched to Rome. We want to secure the Protestant faith.

Should the ceasefire fall our main target will be the Irelands tourist industry. There is no security on the border, what's to stop us driving down to Dublin some Monday morning and planting a dozen devices in litter bins all across Dublin? We could shut it down for days. Ordinary Catholics have nothing to fear from us, we will only hit legitimate targets. But it is a war, and innocents die in wars. "We will kill freed IRA, says group.

Eight armed members of the Orange Volunteers staged a show of strength for Ulster Television and said IRA prisoners freed under the Good Friday Accord would be particular targets.
"We are prepared to defend our people and if it comes to the crunch we will assassinate the enemies of Ulster," the Ov's stated "this organisation cannot allow nationalist prisoners to walk free with impunity while wives and families of people have to visit the graves of their loved ones murdered by nationalist scum.

The statement was read out to a UTV reporter, Ivan Little, who was hooded and taken to a secret location on Thursday night. The men wore balaclavas and produced handguns, rifles, grenades, a sub- machine gun and sawn off shot guns. The meeting began with a bible-reading and closed with prayers.

The Orange Volunteers were formed as a Doomsday organisation that will defend Ulster because politicians have handled the peace process so ineptly and it does not believe the IRA's war is over.