Ridley raises some controversial questions about FBI entrapment strategy and whether or not certain elements of the strategy would be justified by a nonviolent defensive organization in a stateless society. The questions are raised on the heels of an Illinois jury refusing to convict three protesters arrested prior to the 2012 NATO Summit of terrorism-related charges after manufacturing four molotov cocktails with the assistance of multiple undercover police operatives. More could certainly be said on the topic, with one of the major criticism’s of the practice’s ethics not being addressed, that of the use of deception and fraud to motivate actions of others.
Today, after more than a year of time and work, the New Hampshire Supreme Court ruled on my appeal for my felony wiretapping convictions, stating:
The evidence of the defendant’s willful mental state at the time he recorded the conversations was far from overwhelming. Thus, there is the very real prospect that the jury would have returned different verdicts had it been properly instructed. Cf. United States v. Paul, 37 F.3d 496, 500 (9th Cir. 1994) (finding the plain error test satisfied where the district court improperly instructed the jury on the different mental state requirements of voluntary and involuntary manslaughter, for in doing so the district court “created a substantial risk that [the defendant] was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, even though the jury may have believed the killing was neither intentional nor extremely reckless”). To allow the convictions to stand under these circumstances “would seriously affect the fairness and integrity of judicial proceedings.” Guay, 162 N.H. at 384. Accordingly, we reverse the convictions and remand for a new trial.
This informative installment of AKPF #1 takes you all the way to Concord, NH to sit in on the exciting hearing on the wiretapping law for the state, which currently is responsible for granting police the authority to kidnap and rob from innocent human beings under the guise of combating illegal recording. We even hear from bureaucrats who admit their deep-seated fear of recording devices and the individuals who wield them, as well as receiving updates from the cannabis legalization progression in Colorado. In a world where herbs are legal, the ability to make objective records is sure to follow closely behind.
Liberty activists in Manchester leave a local bar and notice some strange men lurking suspiciously in their cars. They decide to have a few words with them, which ultimately results in the men leaving the vicinity:
With an overwhelming 250-97 vote today the NH house of representatives voted down a piece of legislation that would have brought even more of the police state to New Hampshire – the license plate scanners bill (HB 675). All 49 other states have these invasive, privacy-destroying devices and with today’s vote, New Hampshire’s state reps have refused this attempted advance of the police state. Yep that’s right, NH has no red light cameras AND no license plate scanners. We’re not totally free, but we’re free-er!
Additionally, the reps then voted to “indefinitely postpone” the bill rather than mark it as “inexpedient to legislate” – that means that it can’t be attached to another bill. It’s dead.
Thanks to all the NH native liberty-lovers and Free State Project participants who called their state reps about this issue. Things are only going to get better here as more libertarians make the move as part of the Free State Project! If you care about freedom and actually want to make a difference, there is nowhere better than the Shire!
A recent appearance by the crew of AKPF #1 to the Black Sheep Rising dialogue program has been reduxed down to 29 minutes to air in this week’s Aqua Keene timeslot. Check out this insightful episode where we discuss the Robin Hood saga, DPRK, and canines instilled with a fear of cats.
