The majority of sovereigns are not dangerous. This blog is about sovereign terrorists. From this point forward I am addressing sovereign terrorists. Domestic terrorism—Americans attacking Americans because of U.S.-based extremist ideologies—comes in many forms in our post 9/11 world. Sovereign citizens are anti-government extremists who believe that even though they physically reside in this country, they are separate or “sovereign” from the United States. As a result, they believe they don’t have to answer to any government authority, including courts, taxing entities, motor vehicle departments, or law enforcement. This causes all kinds of problems—and crimes. For example, many sovereign citizens don’t pay their taxes. They hold illegal courts that issue warrants for judges and police officers. They clog up the court system with frivolous lawsuits. They use fake money orders, personal checks, and the like at government agencies, banks, and businesses. An Example: Posse Comitatus is made up mostly white Christians who practice survivalist. They reject federal laws, and many state laws. They feel the county sheriff is the highest form of law enforcement. The sheriff is an elected official and they feel all laws should be enforced by the county. These groups are growing at the present time. Their popularity ebbs and flows with the economy. They often lie to people to defraud banks and are typically convicted of ‘wire and mail fraud.’ They have banners like “Fight the New World Order—George Washington would.” They teach: “Reject all forms of government.” The farm crisis in the 1970’s started it. 1980’s backlash against the government in rural farm areas allowed it to build. 1992 & 1993—standoffs in Ruby Ridge (Idaho), Waco (Texas), with federal agents. 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. 1996 stand-off with Montana Freemen. 2007 Stand off with Ed and Elaine Brown. This was handled best. FBI parked cars at the end of the driveway and waited for them leave for 2 years. No arguing. Finally, they ordered pizza and undercover agents went in an arrested them. Conspiracy theorists: They use Strawman theory, which is a fallacy based on giving the impression of refuting an opponent’s argument, while actually refuting an argument not presented by any one. Hence the enemy is a “strawman.” Sovereign Citizen involvement is often motivated by home foreclosure. The sovereign groups don’t really help, but they do threaten the bank and police, and struggling citizens feel a bond with them. They will tell you that the government has taken out a loan in your name and made hundreds of thousands of dollars, and for a small fee, they’re organization is going to help you reclaim it. You need to give them the money as a gift, so they don’t have to claim it. And you need to keep paying them, because the government keeps bending the law to keep your money, but they are the ones who “really” know the law. They will give you all kinds of official looking documents. They notarize forms to appear legitimate. Keep in mind, a notary only confirms who signed it. It doesn’t make the document legitimate. They often have members with fake ID’s. If they show you anything, other than a legitimate state driver's license, you may be dealing with a sovereign. They make money off of illegals by claiming they can make them legal, for a fee. It’s scary in that these sovereign groups are willing to kill for their beliefs. 50 law enforcement officers have been killed by radical right sovereign anti-government groups since 1995. Tips for law enforcement: When you call in sovereign license plates, you’ll find no record of them, because they are made by the organization. They typically respond, “I’m a free man. What authority do you have to question a sovereign?” They may have posse comitatus, or sovereign nation bumper stickers. They will then hand over documents which seem legitimate, but are not. Many have a fingerprint in red ink by their name. Please remember, they are well armed. They believe the law doesn’t apply to them. Don’t attempt to reason with them. They’re argument isn’t based on logic. A Minnesota version of a sovereign is Robert Bonine Beale. Robert graduated from MIT with a degree in Engineering, and would later serve as a research scientist from 1966 to 1973 at MIT Draper Laboratory, where he invented hydraulics for the classified Minuteman Missile project. At Honeywell Systems and Research Center, Beale developed guidance and control systems for the C-5A military transport, the F-15 fighter, F-14 fighter, jet engines, and advanced and lightweight torpedoes, and also patented components for a solar power plant and an electronic oxygen regulator for jet pilots. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Beale founded three companies in Minnesota, including COMTROL, which generated revenues in excess of $35 million per year. Beale was on the Minnesota board for televangelist Pat Robertson during Robertson's failed run for president in 1988. Beale's problems with the Internal Revenue Service began in the 1990s over a dispute involving Artist Graphics, a computer software firm Beale founded. On April 30, 2008, Beale was convicted of illegally hiding $5.6 million of his salary as CEO of Comtrol to evade $1.6 million in taxes. (His original trial had been delayed 14 months when Beale skipped bail on the eve of his trial in August 2006.) He was later charged with threatening the life of the federal judge who prosecuted him and was given 11 additional months of prison time. Beale served briefly as his own attorney at his trial. Beale’s group once subpoenaed a judge (a fake subpoena) and requested the judge testify at a home in Little Canada, Minnesota. Thanks for listening, Frank Neil Young did a great song about militia groups, called Powderfinger. I have to add one more song since Powderfinger was played in the Rust Never Sleeps Tour back before I was a senior in high school at the St Paul Civic Center. Great Tour! Preston's Crosstown Community Band performed at Bachman's. The store once stored squash. Thank you players, coaches, parents, and fans for another amazing season. It's fun ro share some pictures of your efforts.
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AuthorFrank F. Weber is a forensic psychologist specializing in homicide and sexual and physical assault cases. He uses his unique understanding of how predator’s think, knowledge of victim trauma, actual court cases, and passion for writing true crime thrillers. His Award Winning books include "Murder Book" (2017) "The I-94 Murders" (2018) "Last Call" (2019) and "Lying Close" (September 2020). Archives
April 2024
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