Broadband Tech > Security > Security > FBI warns of Sovereign Citizens

FBI warns of Sovereign Citizens

said by the FBI :

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They could be dismissed as a nuisance, a loose network of individuals living in the United States who call themselves "sovereign citizens" and believe that federal, state, and local governments operate illegally. Some of their actions, although quirky, are not crimes. The offenses they do commit seem minor: They do not pay their taxes and regularly create false license plates, driver's licenses, and even currency.

However, a closer look at sovereign citizens' more severe crimes, from financial scams to impersonating or threatening law enforcement officials, gives reason for concern. If someone challenges (e.g., a standard traffic stop for false license plates) their ideology, the behavior of these sovereign-citizen extremists quickly can escalate to violence. Since 2000, lone-offender sovereign-citizen extremists have killed six law enforcement officers. In 2010, two Arkansas police officers stopped sovereign-citizen extremists Jerry Kane and his 16-year-old son Joseph during a routine traffic stop on Interstate 40. Joseph Kane jumped out of the vehicle and opened fire with an AK-47 assault rifle, killing both officers.

The sovereign-citizen threat likely will grow as the nationwide movement is fueled by the Internet, the economic downturn, and seminars held across the country that spread their ideology and show people how they can tap into funds and eliminate debt through fraudulent methods. As sovereign citizens' numbers grow, so do the chances of contact with law enforcement and, thus, the risks that incidents will end in violence. Law enforcement and judicial officials must understand the sovereign-citizen movement, be able to identify indicators, and know how to protect themselves from the group's threatening tactics.

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A valid concern for officers who conduct traffic stops or execute search warrants.

sorry, android auto-correct. not sure how "search" turned into "award."

oh, haha. had me quite curious.

If only it was FBI agents pulling you over to congratulate you on wearing your seatbelt and not something else...

You know, they always say positive reinforcement is a good thing. Why -don't- police pull people and reward them for going the speed limit or changing lanes properly or allowing someone to merge?

I suppose that could create all sorts of havoc though. hehe.

reply to aannoonn
There is more to this story. "Sovereign Citizens" what they have done, or could do is nothing compared to what "OCCUPY" has done already. The FBI have bigger fish to fry. Should they be watched "yes, sirree". Full weight and force of the FBI, "give me a break!".

Please do not be taken in by what the left hand is doing. Watch the other hand!! The magic show ain't over yet.

it has nothing to do with frying fish. Cops are paranoid when out on the road, when backup could be several minutes away, about being greeted by AK47s or shotguns when they are going to give someone a traffic citation.

2011 had more police officers killed than ever.
»articles.cnn.com/2011-12-12/us/u···_s=PM:US
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If we lose this freedom of ours, history will record with the greatest astonishment, those who had the most to lose, did the least to prevent its happening.

reply to doppler
They equate them to domestic terrorists, but when government is too oppressive it breeds it, however there are always the extremists. They like to throw around the word terrorist, it's the latest word to spread fear on a grand scale, before it was communist.

quote:

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It is important to realize sovereign citizens’ tactics to harass and intimidate law enforcement, court, and government officials, as well as financial institution employees. Methods can range from refusing to cooperate with requests, demanding an oath of office or proof of jurisdiction, filming interactions with law enforcement that they later post on the Internet

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reply to aannoonn

quote:

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The arrested five are all either members of right-wing militias or the “sovereign citizen” movement, which posits that all Americans are sovereigns, and as such, not required to obey laws unless not doing do would directly harm other sovereigns.

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reply to aannoonn
I love the idea of a Magic Title that exempts someone from obeying laws. "Sovereign Citizen", lol. We need some more similar titles.

"Self Appointed Deity"
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hey Dale

reply to aannoonn
Soverign Citirzens as a cause needs clear and defined movement guidelines that only challenges the courts. Without it, the movement appears simply to pander to those wanting to escape fines, taxes and duty to country without a collective purpose.
It's little wonder it has gained momentum with and linked to criminal and anti government activity resulting in domestic terrorism.....by definition that is what it is for a lot of their followers.
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Paradigm Shift beta test pilot. "Now is the not right time to stop folding."

reply to jvmorris
This guy's got all the titles: »tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.c···onsp.php

quote:

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Cox is a self-described “sovereign citizen” and leader of the Alaska Peacemaker Militia and Alaska Assembly Post. He also is the “Secretary of Defense” for the national Assembly Post, and Commander-in-Chief” of the “several States of the United States of America.” Barney and Vernon are also “officers” in the Militia and Alaska Assembly Post.

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quote:

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According to the latest indictment, Cox, Barney and Vernon conspired to stockpile weapons, including silencers, hand grenades, grenade launchers and a “Hornet’s Nest” anti-personnel round “as part of their membership in the Alaska Peacemaker Militia and the Alaska Assembly Post, and in furtherance of their collective belief that at some undetermined and unknown point in the future they would be compelled to take up arms against the government.” The indictments also allege that Cox “did solicit, command, induce and endeavor to persuade” Barney and Vernon to kill a law enforcement officer, which carries an additional sentence of up to a 20-years.

The indictment alleges that with the Alaska Assembly Post, Cox formed a military arm, legal arm, judiciary and even his own currency, in preparation for a government take-over or to form a new government in the event of a “government collapse.” Cox also created a list of state and federal government employees — including U.S. Marshals, employees of the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection, and Alaska State Troopers — and gathered personal information about them “so that Cox and others could kill them in the event of a ‘government collapse,’” the indictment alleges.

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reply to Krisnatharok

reply to BlitzenZeus
Well, there's that, and then there's provoking an interaction just so you can post it on teh interwebs. You know, like the one about Mr. dmurphy25 we discussed the other day. The guy without a name, because not having a name means you don't have to obey the laws. As long as you wrote to the Queen first to let her know you'd opted out. Or something.

That guy was a 'freeman on the land', here's the rationalwiki on his ilk: »rationalwiki.org/wiki/Freeman_on_the_land

and the article on 'sovereign citizens' is here: »rationalwiki.org/wiki/Sovereign_citizen

Oh, give 'em the Wiki links, too, dave.

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereign_···movement and »en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeman_on···#Freemen .
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Regards,
Joseph V. Morris

The rationalwiki article is better, on account of the term pseudolegal woo.

And then there's woo-woo.