The “Planning, License, and Development” committee has “taken as informational” the suggestions from liberty activists that the council send a letter encouraging the legislature to decriminalize cannabis and also to repeal the paraphernalia ordinance. Citing “the children”, the committee ignored the factual, compassionate reasons given by advocates of freedom as to why they should not be arresting their neighbors for their personal, peaceful habits of drug use and instead bought the prohibitionist propaganda presented at the meeting hook, line, and sinker. Here’s an excellent article about the meeting by the Keene Sentinel’s Kyle Jarvis:
As states around the country pass laws decriminalizing small amounts or even legalizing marijuana, some residents want Keene to get onboard. But local police, community health leaders and city councilors aren’t convinced it’s the right move. (more…)
Last night the Keene PLD committee voted 5-0 to approve the proposed ban on synthetic drugs in Keene. Many in the community came out to speak on the issue, most of whom spoke for the new prohibition. Led by a group of confused, angry local parents, the prohibitionists won the day with their fear-based arguments justifying the violence the people calling themselves “the city” will soon employ against the poorest of victims – drug addicts.
The commission pretended to care as the opponents of prohibition spoke in favor of freedom and pointed out how prohibition created synthetic drugs in the first place, that prohibition never works, and the war on drugs only makes addicts’ lives worse.
Truth was of no concern to the committee. They overwhelmingly bought the prohibitionists’ claims that their ban will make things safer, when all the evidence points to the opposite. Force does not work and always creates unintended consequences. Force is not compassion for our sick, addicted neighbors.
The matter now goes to the full council where it will likely pass, despite not even likely being legal by their own rules. Of course, when have their own rules ever stopped them from doing what they want?
Concord police will be receiving a Ballistic Engineered Armored Response Counter Attack Truck, after an 11-4 vote by the full city council in favor of accepting the military-style vehicle funded by a Department of Homeland Security grant to the Lenco corporation. The fire chief closed the building to many attendees, calling capacity at a reported 70 guests. Drum circles, light shows, sign waving, videography, and socializing occurred in the courtyard outside of the council meeting location on Green Street. Media from around the state observed proceedings both inside and outside of the chambers. Dave Ridley has already posted an ambush interview of Concord police chief John Duval to his youtube channel, in which he asks the top cop if he expected anyone beyond DHS bureaucracy to read his grant application. Ridley’s coverage, from which more is to be expected later, is embedded below.
Tony Schinella’s article at Concord Patch includes quotes from city councilors on both sides the issue, who were reportedly offered copies of Radley Balko’s Rise of the Warrior Cop while they were considering their decision. After word of the vote came out to the crowd, the message on the green beam laser pointed at a nearby steeple read, “BEARCAT FOR SALE CALL 911”. (more…)
Political action is alive and well in Keene with a record six activists jumping into the Keene municipal elections this year!
In the Ward and Mayoral races, liberty activists are the ONLY competition to the statist incumbents (This is a list of the current candidates – the main filing deadline closed this afternoon.)!
More information about the candidates will be coming soon. They include David Crawford, James “Robin Hood” Cleaveland, and Conan Salada, in wards 1, 2, and 4, respectively. In the at-large race, I am running and in the mayoral race both Rich Paul and Darryl W. Perry are running. Mark your calendar for the general election date of Tuesday, November 5, 2013! A primary election is scheduled for October 8, one candidate will be eliminated from the At-Large City Council election, and the Mayoral race will be reduced to 2 candidates.
Would you like to be around a bunch of other people who care enough about liberty to do something? Here are 150+ reasons to move to Keene!
In this episode we discuss the upcoming race for city council, the latest cannabis decrim proposal in Keene and the successful copblocking of a recent DUI checkpoint in Walpole. Ian Freeman joins.
The “Planning, License, and Development” committee has “taken as informational” the suggestions from liberty activists that the council send a letter encouraging the legislature to decriminalize cannabis and also to repeal the paraphernalia ordinance. Citing “the children”, the committee ignored the factual, compassionate reasons given by advocates of freedom as to why they should not be arresting their neighbors for their personal, peaceful habits of drug use and instead bought the prohibitionist propaganda presented at the meeting hook, line, and sinker. Here’s an excellent article about the meeting by the Keene Sentinel’s Kyle Jarvis:
