NH Secession Featured in Washington Post

TheUnionisDissolvedjpg-2291358_p9[1]Free State Project founder Jason Sorens was published in the Washington Post today, asking the question, “Where Scotland failed, could New Hampshire succeed?”. As it stands, approximately one in four Americans support their state seceding from the U.S., which is an excellent starting point to begin a discussion on the issue. The more we can talk about the idea of seceding, the more realistic it will become, so now is a great time to talk to friends, family, and co-workers about what happened in Scotland and why we need to seriously consider the same thing here.

While the Reuters poll on secession shows New Englanders being the least likely to support secession (19%), we all know that Granite Staters are not of the same mindset as the rest of New England. Unfortunately, the poll does not break out individual states’ responses. Hopefully we’ll see a NH-only poll conducted at some point in the future. Meantime, we need more liberty-loving people to move here as part of the Free State Project and for people to start discussions with loved ones about this idea. The Foundation for New Hampshire Independence has some good outreach information on the idea. Let’s make it a reality!

Here’s Sorens’ editorial:

On Thursday, a majority of Scots voted against independence from the United Kingdom. Their desire for self-determination, though, is easy to understand: The same impulse motivates present-day demands for federalism and state autonomy in the United States. Over the past decade, for instance, the Free State Project has been drawing libertarians to the relatively libertarian-friendly state of New Hampshire to pursue smaller government. Could New Hampshire or another state (one in fourAmericans want their state to secede, according to a poll last week) ever hold its own vote on independence? (more…)

Have We Not Yet Resolved the Chalking Terror?

It always catches me by surprise when a public official continues to express belief in an incorrect analysis of law. Yesterday afternoon in Keene, a chalk artist was approached by a bailiff who exited the front doors of the court to issue a pseudo-order to stop chalking. Classifying the chalking as ‘disorderly conduct’, a vague legal term to which chalking does not apply, the authority figure retreated when questioned about his statements and suggested that he would contact Keene police. A KPD SUV rolled by, and another officer walked past the chalking and into the courthouse, but no further action was taken. And, the chalking remained over 24 hours later!

I suppose this was simply an incident in which one bailiff had an incorrect interpretation of the rights of people to express themselves. It was respectable to see the issue dropped once the false information was corrected. One longs for a day when chalking itself does not cause such an elevation of the emotions for bystanders and authority figures.

Union Leader Reports on City Council Ignoring BEARCAT Return Proposal

BEARCATThanks to Meghan Pierce for her report on the Keene City Council’s outright refusal to even hold a public hearing regarding councilor Terry Clark’s proposal to return the BEARCAT attack tank to the feds. Here’s her story:

KEENE – A move to return the city’s BearCat armored police vehicle to the federal government was rejected by city council members 11 to 3 Thursday night.

 

City Councilor Terry Clark made the request to return the BearCat in a letter to Mayor Kendall Lane and the council dated Aug. 19.

 

Clark asked Lane and councilors to withdraw from the Homeland Security grant that funded the BearCat and return the specialized vehicle in light of the “the lack of use of and practical need for, as well as the derogatory impact on our fine city’s name,” he wrote. (more…)

Supreme Court to Hear Robin Hood Case October 15

Following the victory of the Merry People at the New Hampshire superior court level, Robin Hood of Keene is now scheduled for another decisive win over the conniving legal team calling itself ‘The City of Keene’ — this time at the state’s highest court, the Supreme! On rhood_wantedakpfWednesday, October 15 at 9:30am, attorneys for the city as well as Robin Hood’s legal counsel will present brief oral arguments in support of their filings regarding the appealed case which was heard over the course of three full days last autumn. While one robed person entertained the narrative last time, on this examination, there will be no less than five dark-clothed individuals asking questions and formulating opinions regarding the legal parameters of the whimsical case.

As many stories that reach NH’s only appellate court resonate, this case has also prompted amicus curiae briefs from the New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union in support of ‘Hooding and an opposition brief filed by the ominous New Hampshire Municipal Association. The location of the Concord court and details of their process are listed on their website.

WKBK’s Excellent Series on Heroin

Rick Van Wickler VICEWKBK‘s morning host Dan Mitchell recently did some of the best reporting in the area that I’ve seen all year. He interviewed jail superintendent Rick Van Wickler along with some inmates about heroin addiction, which is a real problem in the Monadnock region.

Van Wickler is known internationally as a speaker for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. He knows drug users don’t belong in jail and his perspective on drug addiction is an important one to be heard. Another perspective worth hearing is our own Rich Paul, who is currently locked in Van Wickler’s jail, aka the Keene Spiritual Retreat.

Here are the audio files from WKBK: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4

Black Sheep Rising – Episode 69

CFL bulbs? Screwing with your aura? • #YoloSwag420BlazeIt Cleaveland campaign • Keene city councilor proposes giving back military tank: Overwhelming voted down by a bunch of gutless pansies • Darryl, Freerock, and X join • Show notes at: BlackSheepRising.org