Always interested to get the USPO take on events in the Free State...

Libertarian activist Russell Kanning of Keene, New Hampshire has just been arrested (April 10) for driving without a license and refusing to appear in court. Kanning is the publisher of the Keene Free Press newspaper and probably one of the five most prominent pro-liberty activists in the state.

He was briefly arrested last month after being pulled over for a malfunctioning tail light on Keene's West street. Keene police then re-arrested him April 10 after he refused to appear in court.

Operating his bumper-sticker-laden vehicles under the motto "In a free country, you don't need government permission to travel," Kanning has been arrested at least three other times for acts of civil disobedience, including his 2005 attempt to board a flight from Manchester without "papers."

Kanning appeared in Keene District Court April 11, attended by a hastily gathered group of at least nine supporters. Some stood outside holding "Free Russell Kanning" signs, others went in to hear the proceedings.

It looks like they are claiming they will hold him until May 14. The jovial nonviolent resistance advocate is said to be refusing to cooperate with processing and is also refusing to post bond.

As of April 11 the latest Details on the situation are posting to the NHfree.com forum at:

http://forum.soulawakenings.com/index.php?topic=8110.0

We will be posting a lot more info there as we get it, including action items if any of you would like to help. Thanks for keeping an eye on our circumstances.

He can still travel on horseback without government permisssion.

__________________
A nation of slaves is always prepared to applaud the clemency of their master who, in the abuse of absolute power, does not proceed to the utmost extremes of injustice and oppression.
Edward Gibbon

What an idiot.

Matt

__________________
De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum

No, Matt, he's not an idiot, he's the ultimate pro-liberty activist!

__________________
When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid
Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

Like I said, an idiot.

Matt

__________________
De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum

While I am heavily Libertarian leaning myself, I can't say that I agree with not needing a license to drive a car. There are enough accidents and casualties from licensed drivers as it is. Do you really want people getting behind the wheel of a car with no training or testing whatsoever?

__________________
"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

President George W. Bush, 8-5-2004

Carolina Politics Online

THIS IS REAL HOPE AND CHANGE!

Thank goodness we have people like this that deal with the real serious issues we face as a society.

__________________
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Russell is free as of a couple weeks ago. He never paid their fines or made any promises, sentenced to time served.

Viva Russell Kanning!

Here is an article I wrote about it in the Keene Free Press before he was released

-----

04/27/07

I pulled 3 silent demonstrations for Russell in bureaucrat lobbies today and yesterday. Yesterday I did Keene District Court for about an hour and among other things got a chance to hand one of my pro-Russell flyers to Mayor Blastos. He said he'd read it. No one tried to kick me out but they did try real hard to ignore me; this included lowering the blinds on their teller windows. One bureaucrat came out and told me he isn't involved in this, and neither are the people who run court that tried Russell!

Today when I went to the jail to demonstrate they said *they* are not involved, and I should protest at the courts! At the jail, they didn't tell me to leave but they did call the state troopers, and apparently told *them* I was refusing to leave. The trooper who showed up threatened to arrest me and went so far as taking out his handcuffs. He's also banned me from returning to that jail property for as long as I shall live (I and my children and my children's children LOL). He finally asked me to leave. However he did read the flyer and kept it; he also showed a reasonable degree of patience once my pokey departure process got underway.


Before he arrived, I basically just demonstrated for the cameras in the little hallway leading to the lobby, and then went out side and showed the sign to prisoners via their windows. Got a lot of thumbs up and furious knocking on the windows.

Earlier today I did about an hour inside Keene Police Dept. They mostly ignored me, and read the flyers.


My flyer:

Dear folks at Cheshire Co. Jail, Keene District Court and KPD:


I have the right to remain silent. Do you have the right to question your orders?

On April 10 and in the days following, this institution was responsible for arresting and/or jailing Keene resident Russell Kanning, on the charge of driving without government "papers."

In today's hyper-controlled society, that's a controversial thing for him to do. But is it wrong? Do you have some reason to believe he or his actions are a threat to others? If not, how many dangerous people has your institution allowed to run free, while it cages or otherwise torments a man who is standing on principle?

If you are ordered to seize a harmless man like him and remove him from his family, is it right to comply? If so, is it right to comply unquestioningly?

Is it right to place him, or to indirectly assist others in placing him, into a concrete or steel box? Does the existence of a law automatically justify enforcing it? Is it right to try and force Russell to bow down before a licensing regimen he believes is morally wrong?

What are you personally doing to mitigate this institution's actions against Russell? Are you expressing concern to anyone, either openly or anonymously?

Is the power to license the power to destroy? Are you comfortable being part of the destruction? If history remembers Russell - and there are indications it may - how will it remember the part you played in his detention?

Respectfully yours,

Dave Ridley
NHfree.com

My sign:

"Is it right
to detain
Russell Kanning
NHfree.com"

Hopefully, when he next elects to break the law, they'll pop him right back in jail.

There is no "right" to do whatever you please on the public roadways. Never has been.

Matt

__________________
De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum

People like Russell Kanning is the reason why Libertarians can't make any headway amongst the American public. I DON'T WANT BLIND PEOPLE OR DRUNKS DRIVING ON OUR ROADS!

__________________
Is our children learning? -George W. Bush

"I think—tide turning—see, as I remember—I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of—it's easy to see a tide turn—did I say those words?"—Washington, D.C., June 14, 2006

"[T]he illiteracy level of our children are appalling."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2004

Do you think it is right for you to advocate taxpayers be forced to underwrite this jailing?

Yup - he's breaking the law, and with that comes consequences.

We as a society pay to enforce the laws, and as a result we bear the cost of providing those consequences.

Matt

__________________
De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum

Living in civilized society comes with a price. I'm all for paying taxes to keep criminals off of the street.

__________________
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"