Oath Keeper Chris Rietmann Stands Guard Thursday Outside the Recruitment Center in Keene, NH
Less than a week after making national news via Ben Swann’s Truth in Media for helping nullify all gun restrictions as a selectman in Alstead, liberty activist Chris Rietmann then made the front page of the Sentinel on Monday. He was featured in the Sentinel article for heading up an effort by local Oath Keepers and other local gun owners to guard the military recruiting center in the aftermath of the recent attack on the recruiting center in Tennessee.
Rietmann, a supporter of the Free State Project and recent independent candidate for Sheriff, explained the purpose of the continuing guard mission was to bring attention to the insanity of gun-free zones, which includes military recruiting centers, schools, and military bases. Gun-free zones are places where law-abiding people are put in jeopardy and are unable to defend themselves against anyone with a mind to kill innocents.
Get a fresh perspective on NH activism from a panel of people who’ve moved to New Hampshire within the last year – the New Movers Panel, hosted by new-mover-to-Peterborough, and author Dr. Tarrin Lupo. Panelists to be announced.
In a video recorded on Keene’s Main St. Sunday evening, State Rep Gladys Johnsen calls Keene Cop Block‘s JP Freeman “dumb” and tells him that he has no right to record video of her! This, after being pulled over by KPD’s officer Leslie Ainsworth – kudos to KPD for not giving the state rep special treatment. Here’s the video of Johnsen’s shocking behavior:
This is certainly not how a state representative should behave, especially in front of a camera. You’d think she’d know something about the freedom to record, considering she co-sponsored the bill to mandate police body cameras (currently retained in committee). However, her bill does not allow the public access to the police footage, which is a huge issue and goes to show that Johnsen is just an arch-statist to the core. Her NH Liberty Alliance report card for 2014 ranks her as a “D-“. In the yet-to-be released 2015 rankings, Johnsen scored as “Dereliction of Duty”, meaning she missed 70% or more of the NHLA’s scored votes. The NHLA recommends she step down from office as a result of missing so many important votes.
Liberty activists in Keene participated in Cop Block‘s Chalk the Police 2015 and hit multiple locations, including Central Square, State Police Troop C Barracks, and Keene Police Department. At KPD an interesting 30 minute conversation ensued with officer Kyle Macie where Chris Cantwell, Ian Freeman, and JP Freeman discussed various issues.
Earlier today on July 16th 2015, I went to my court date at the 9th Circuit District Division Courthouse in Manchester NH for my trial over a traffic ticket. Accompanying me to record my trial was Renee Kate of the Seditious Sirens with camera and press badge in hand. When we entered the courthouse, we had to pass security. Security attempted to give Renee a hard time about recording in court. Both of us replied that we are recognized by the court and the State of New Hampshire as press and continued to proceed to the court room. The two of us sat down in the court room and witnessed two people take a plea deal from the court. After watching the court threatening violence against people, one of the court clerks walked up to us, called me by name, and informed me my case was Nolle Prossed by the prosecutor. The prosecutor of the case decided to throw out their case against me in regards to the ticket I was fighting. My objective was to petition the court to allow me to donate my time to a private charity instead of the state receiving funds from me. I attempted this in the pretrial as well but was given a non guilty plea instead. A point I had planned to bring up during the trial as well. We did find it interesting that they knew who I was and didn’t need to call my name out to find me.
The other reason I have been fighting traffic and parking tickets as of late was for practice. Unfortunately, living as freely as I do here in the Shire, being kidnapped by the state is a possibility. I viewed this trial as a court room workshop. Worst case scenario they would take the $110 from me but I would not be in a cage. I walked away with a couple of important lessons. Don’t take a plea is a great strategy in an attempt to win a case. How else would get a case thrown out if you do not fight it? When possible, take a case to trial. Also, do yourself a favor by grabbing a friend, printing a press badge, and bring a camera to your court date. The camera and press badge did not see use today but I am certain had I not had those two things, the outcome of today would not have been in my favor.
The Old School panel is back for Keenevention 2015! Free State Project early mover Denis Goddard has lived in New Hampshire since 2005 and has been heavily involved in the political scene. He served as Selectman in his town, is Emeritus Director of Research for the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance, and hosted a cable access show in Concord for years. He and his panel of experienced New Hampshire activists will share their perspectives on how we got to where we are on this year’s Old School Panel. Panelists to be announced.
