The State and the Golden Rule

June 17, 2013 by Ian · 11 Comments
Filed under: Response, Robin Hood

In Sunday’s Keene Sentinel, columnist Steve Gilbert unleashed on Robin Hooders, claiming we are violating the Golden Rule, that is, to do unto others as you’d like done to you.

Steve has it backwards. It’s the people calling themselves “the state”, or in this case, “the city”, that are violating the golden rule. While the state believers sometimes offer a valuable service, like education, roads, or fire protections, they do not offer it on a consensual basis.

If you decide you don’t want to do what the state people want or pay what they demand, you could have your home stolen, car stolen, be put in a cage, or even killed.

That is not how one should treat one’s neighbors. However, despite the violence and the threats of violence enacted against me by the state, I will not respond in kind. I know that violence begets violence and that peace is the way.

Asking government bureaucrats questions on camera is the definition of accountability. If they don’t like it, they can quit their immoral jobs. Also, to Steve or anyone else reading this, please find me video of a Robin Hooder “sticking a camera in the face” of a parking enforcer for even a moment, let alone “several hours”. These claims are so common and yet completely baseless. Holding a camera in my personal space and pointing it at a government worker is not sticking anything in anyone’s face. Get real.

Steve asks what the endgame of Free Keene is. I wonder if he bothered to read the “About” page of this website. The endgame of course is to convert Keene into a consensual society where people stop using coercion against their peaceful neighbors. I don’t care if the government people go away – I only want them to stop threatening and hurting peaceful people.

Oh, and there are PLENTY of people who appreciate what Robin Hooders do – there is no shortage of monetary contributions and compliments given to us by members of the public.

Tags:

Thomas Ball Memorial, Tomorrow 3pm @ Superior Court

June 13, 2013 by Ian · 1 Comment
Filed under: Corruption, Court, ToDo, Update

In 2011, Thomas Ball, a father frustrated by the ridiculous legal system in NH, set himself ablaze in front of the Cheshire “superior” court.

Now, two years later, others concerned about judicial abuse will gather at the front of the courthouse at 3pm Friday 6/13. Here is the relevant facebook event.

Tags:

Welcome to our newest blogger, Rich Paul!

June 13, 2013 by Ian · 2 Comments
Filed under: Announcement, Cool

Welcome to Rich Paul, our newest blogger! Here’s his bio from the Bloggers page:

Rich Paul is an early mover for the Free State Project and computer programmer by trade who is currently in jail for selling cannabis. He heroically stood up for his belief that the drug war needs to end, put his entire life on the line, and faced 100 years in prison. He was sentenced to one in jail aka the Keene Spiritual Retreat. Watch the blog for his posts from jail and tune into Free Talk Live to hear his calls from jail. You can write to him here at Mail-to-Jail.

Tags:

Union Leader, Sentinel, WMUR Pieces on Robin Hooders in Court

June 12, 2013 by Ian · 3 Comments
Filed under: New Hampshire, News, Robin Hood, Update

Thanks to Meghan Pierce for the excellent front-page feature article in the Union Leader on Robin Hood and the Merry Men and Women’s first appearance in court yesterday.

Plus, we got a feature story from Kyle Jarvis at the Keene Sentinel, though he (or perhaps the editors) wrongly states that I spoke on behalf of the other Robin Hooders at the hearing. This is not true. I did most of the speaking because the court was hearing my motion to dismiss. I wrote it, so I spoke about it. The others had nothing to do with that motion. I don’t represent them and they don’t represent me.

Finally, a video report from WMUR. Stay tuned as more media will be posted as it comes in.

Here’s the text of the Union Leader piece: Read more

Tags:

Robin Hooders in Court – Twitter Feed from Keene Sentinel

June 11, 2013 by Ian · 7 Comments
Filed under: Court, National, New Hampshire, News, Personal Freedom, Robin Hood, Update

Thanks to Jacqueline Palochko from the Keene Sentinel for live tweeting during the hearing today. Stay tuned here to Free Keene for a write-up, coverage by other media, and full video.

Tweets by @JPalochkoKS

Tags:

Carroll County Commissioners Sued by Reporters

June 10, 2013 by Ian · 4 Comments
Filed under: Hypocrisy, Issues, New Hampshire, News, Video

Reporters Ed Comeau and Mellisa Seamans are suing the Carroll County Commissioners for failing to comply appropriately with NH RSA 91-A regarding freedom of information requests. Here is an article about it by the Conway Daily Sun and one written by Seamans.

Ed Comeau confronts the commission here:

Tags:

PhotographyIsNotACrime.com Posts About the Palmer $5,000 Settlement

June 10, 2013 by Ian · 2 Comments
Filed under: Civil Disobedience, Cool, News, Personal Freedom, Update

Thanks to heroic photojournalist Carlos Miller from Photography is Not a Crime for his coverage of the Palmer camera arrest settlement.

Tags:

Rich Paul Sentenced – Full Video + Rich’s Speech

June 8, 2013 by Ian · 66 Comments
Filed under: Civil Disobedience, Court, Economic Freedom, Issues, Jailed Activist, Living Free, National, New Hampshire, News, Personal Freedom, Update, Victimless Crimes, Video

Rich Paul bravely faced down 100 years in prison to stand up for principle and attempt to hasten the demise of the insane war on drugs. Yesterday, Rich was sentenced to one year in county jail, many more suspended in prison, a three year probation, and fines.

At the sentencing hearing the court heard well-researched and passionate speeches from defense attorney Kim Kossick, Rich’s parents, and Rich himself:

You can see raw video below of Kim and Rich’s parents’ speeches as well as a ridiculous beginning portion where judge John C. Kissinger enters the court and immediately threatens the audience regarding cameras. Read more

Tags:

WINNING! Palmer Settles Camera Arrest Case for $5,000.

June 8, 2013 by Ian · 13 Comments
Filed under: Corruption, Court, Issues, News, Personal Freedom, Update

Back in October 2012, I was arrested for recording video in the town hall of Palmer, MA. The arrest was clearly illegal, but that didn’t stop Palmer Police officer Raymond Tenczar from putting handcuffs on me, then putting me in a cage. After all, the legal council for the town had told them they could and they’d even posted hastily-printed signs on the building that morning that prohibited recording. They didn’t want a repeat of 2011, where CopBlock‘s Pete Eyre and I walked all around the building, recording and asking the bureaucrats tough questions. (We were there to view a tax sale and support our friend Jay Noone who was having his home stolen by the people calling themselves the “Town of Palmer”.)

Their plan would have worked if it weren’t for those pesky liberty activists and the ACLU of Massachusetts!

Not only did Palmer district court eventually dismiss the “disorderly conduct” charges “with prejudice” (meaning they can’t bring them back against me), but the town bureaucrats paid out $5,000 as a settlement.

Takeaways from the experience:

1. Just because bureaucrats print a sign saying you can’t do something, doesn’t mean you can’t do that thing. They are liars.
2. Don’t stop recording. Be polite about it, but stand your ground. Read more

Tags:

Control-freak Protest Organizer Calls Police on Counter Protestors?

June 7, 2013 by Ian · 6 Comments
Filed under: Concord, Update, Video

The series of videos from Dave Ridley that show the ridiculous and rude behavior of some pro-welfare protest organizers continues. This time the police are called in, but the cop does the right thing and leaves the counter protesters alone: