Feds Release the Outlaw Flier Distributor!

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Russell is Free!

After spending weeks in maximum security prison, Russell Kanning has been released. The federal judge sentenced him to time served, no probation, no fine, and a “$20 special assessment fee”. As Russell would likely refuse to pay it, superactivist Lauren Canario stepped in and paid off the thugs.

Why was Russell in maximum, locked down 23 hours a day? Partly because he refused to sign their paperwork. In fact, he was released from the system without signing anything. Why is that relevant? He did not agree to the contracts that they try to force on people via threats and intimidation. He refused to consent to the system.

Details are developing, here’s the official thread at NHFree.com for the latest.

What will happen next in the Free State?

-FTL Ian

posted Aug 18th, 2006 by ianbernard
  • http://360.yahoo.com/pong_god Robert Mayer

    OMG! Why are they releasing this dangerous criminal back into society? Imagine what could happen… he might put a flier on someone’s door or (shudder) refuse to sign some more government paperwork!

  • http://rabidquill.com BJT

    All bark and no bite. They let him go because they know they can’t justify taking any more from him than they already have. So far they have succeeded in only taking up his time.

    They function primarily on bluster and bluff in order to keep the masses in line. Ask yourself: does the sheepdog ever actually BITE the sheep?

    No, it only chases and frightents them to corrall them to wherever the shepherd wants them to go.

    The bureaucrats have even less power than a sheepdog. Do as Russell does. Address people as individuals and ignore the bureaucratic bluster.

  • http://UnCivilDefence.blogspot.com MRJarrell

    Can’t help but wonder how the neo-libertarians are set to take this one. Principle wins the day…

  • http://freestateproject.org Seth

    While I’m glad to see Russell out, keep in mind he was convicted of 4 misdemenors. (Whether he signed anything or not is pointless, he assessed in court verbally)

    Coupled with his prior conviction on the TSA protest, his rap sheet is getting bigger. I’m amazed the judge was so lenient, as I’d predicted probation (otherwise the sentence was about what I expected).

    Russell then went to the boards where he was discussed, and posted comments like this one on HoT: “I might someday turn over desks. I think that is quite nonviolent and preferable compared to the shooting that occured during the American Revolution.”

    Yeah, the authorities will still be watching him… he’ll end up back before a judge sooner or later, and as the rap sheet gets longer, the sentences will too.

    Wake up Russell, threats to commit public destruction ARE NOT PEACEFUL.

  • http://freestateproject.org Seth

    um, should be ‘assented’ not assessed.

  • Julian

    If PETA, ELF, ALF, ANSWER, etc. are allowed to exist and play their antics with virtual impunity, why is the government going after a tax protester (unarmed and no bombs strapped to him) passing out leaflets and asking federal bureaucrats to quit their jobs?

    Oh, I forgot. If he is allowed to “get away” with challenging the tax collectors, we all may join his movement against unfair and exorbitant taxes without our consent and that would be a problem.

    He should have been found innocent and should have never been detained and arrested. He was on taxpayer owned property exercising his right to freedom of speech and assembly.

  • Julia

    Seth – Your comments about Russell always remind me of the “zero tolerance” policies in government schools.

  • http://freestateproject.org Seth

    Julian, taxpayer owned property? So if you decided to walk into the Pentagon or some other ‘publically owned’ building, you can do whatever you want? No. You can’t. Russell was NOT arrested for his flyers, he was arrested because he made threats of violence, and when told not to enter the property but that flyers outside would be fine, he attempted to push past the officers sent to stop him. Plain and Simple.

    No ‘zero tolerance’ about it. Ian and others are ignoring the facts, and worse making excuses them. If Russell had done the right thing, he’d have peaceful handed out flyers and there would have been no arrest at all. His return to the ‘scene of the crime’ a second time, without flyers, shows that this was NOT about free speech, but about intent to commit a public disturbation. And Russell ADMITS that is his intent.

  • http://www.ilovephysics.com Chris Moore

    Seth, from your reasoning I suppose the Woolworth’s sit-in in Greensboro, NC in 1960 was a poor form of protest as well.

    Those poor black kids should have just stood outside and handed out fliers.

  • Seth

    Chris, it was someone else’s private property. Yes, they should have, by some standards. If someone is going to claim they believe in a principle like private property, then act like it. You can’t believe it sometimes and ignore it at other times when it’s not convienent.

    Heck, according to a
    quote from Ayn Rand     that Steve Perkins brought up previously, she felt that protests should be on YOUR own property, not the public way.

    If Russell doesn’t believe that the courts have power over him, or as Ian claims, there is no State, just thugs, then they cannot also claim a defense via the Constitutional rights those documents provide (since all of it derives from the same place). Everyone claiming it’s his ‘right to free speech’ should remember that… You can’t have it both ways – no matter how you try.

  • Money Dollars

    All I have to say is:
    http://sethcohn.com

  • Seth

    I was waiting for John Richard aka Money Dollars aka fisher aka president to pop his trolly head up sometime.
    Nothing like someone with so little life of his own that he cyberstalks others. He’s made indirect threats of physical violence (talking about firing sniper style at people, for example) in the past, and he’s behind such anti-FSP sites as http://savegrafton.org/, and he’s no friend of liberty. Funny enough, Russell and Kat and Ian support him and encourage him on their forums – which makes you wonder…

  • ianbernard

    It’s a conspiracy!

  • http://www.ilovephysics.com Chris Moore

    The Constitution does not “provide” rights.

    You can shread the Constitution and I will still have a right to say whatever the hell I damn well want.

  • Money Dollars

    “He’s made indirect threats of physical violence (talking about firing sniper style at people, for example) in the past”

    Care to back that up?

    Why do you claim I called the police on you?
    http://forum.soulawakenings.com/index.php?topic=2788.msg47895#msg47895

    P.S. Russell doesn’t support me. He had me on ignore on nhfree.com, and he deletes my posts, you liar.

    The truth will set you free seth.

  • JodyW

    Great to hear Russell is free. I am very surprised they did not put him on probation. I wonder what the calculated cost of Russells time in jail was, how much was the tax payer on the hook for? How many unsolved murders took place while Russel was in jail? How many murderers got early release while Russel was in jail? Russell the big bad evil criminal, best lock up my kids and pets now that he is out.

    “I might someday turn over desks. I think that is quite nonviolent and preferable compared to the shooting that occured during the American Revolution.”

    Great comment from Russell, glad he made it. It is very refreshing to see some people actually give a shit about freedom and do something about it instead of just sitting at home typing what they think is erudite conversation into their computers. One thing is obvious, there are some people on HoT who want all of the fame but don’t want to do any of the dirty work to get it.

  • http://voteoverstreet.org Kris Overstreet

    One point: has Russell accomplished anything positive by his acts?

    No.

    To the contrary, he’s publicly embarassed all activists for smaller government by his actions and his statements. People will point to Russell every time a serious proposal for reducing government power is proposed and equate the proponents to him- and write off all as the same kind of lunatic.

    He was released because he’s served nearly a month in the pen and is not regarded, at this time, as a serious threat to life, liberty or property- not out of any respect for his moral position whatever.

    There’s no victory here at all; there was never any possibility of victory; and claiming that there is a victory only increases the degree of the defeat.

  • http://www.ilovephysics.com Chris Moore

    “One point: has Russell accomplished anything positive by his acts?

    No.”

    Maybe by your values. Others obviously disagree.

  • http://www.ilovephysics.com Chris Moore

    “To the contrary, he’s publicly embarrassed all activists for smaller government by his actions and his statements.”

    Statements made by Kris Overstreet on his campaign site:

    “Yes, I like smut. I especially like smutty cartoons, stuff I can laugh at. I’ve even been known to write the stuff, and some truly strange stuff at that. Unfortunately, I haven’t got rich doing it- and you know you’re doing something wrong when sex DOESN’T sell.”

    “That means, if you do a WWW search on me, you might find references to “Admiral Overstreet,” my role playing character, and wonder if I’ve gone right out of my tiny little mind.”

    Therefore, when I decide to run for state representative as a Libertarian, by Kris’s logic, I can expect to be called a smut-peddler and D&D weirdo.

    I’m not embarrassed by anyone else’s actions or statements. I’m certainly not embarrassed by Kanning’s. I worry about what I say and do. I encourage others to do likewise.

  • http://UnCivilDefence.blogspot.com MRJarrell

    As an activist for smaller and even no government Russell’s actions have not embarrassed me one wit. What you youmust mean, Kris is that his actions make you uncomfortable. Russell achieved something good. Through peaceful civil disobedience, (contrary to Seths assertions) he has struck a blow for freedom and made the point that activists do not have to be intimidated. Thoreau would be proud of him, why aren’t you? It doesn’t suit the agenda? The movement to be free has a lot of room in it, if the actions of one activist make you uncomfortable then perhaps it is you who needs to reassess your activities and goals.
    I seriously doubt that anyone other than you regards him as a lunatic. I applaud Russell and his actions. We need a few thousand more like him.

  • ianbernard

    I’m so glad there are people that get it. :)

  • Wes P

    I like this side of Julian. I’m surprised it exists!

  • http://www.freetalklive.com Slim

    All I have to say is congradulations Russell

  • MJ

    Seth stop trolling our celebrations of Russel’s good health and speedy release. He’s not a bad person and you’re making an ass of yourself.

  • http://voteoverstreet.org Kris Overstreet

    “Through peaceful civil disobedience, (contrary to Seths assertions) he has struck a blow for freedom and made the point that activists do not have to be intimidated.”

    Has the law been changed? No.

    Has public opinion been changed? No, except possibly to further discredit small-government activists as a group.

    Has the government admitted any wrongdoing, any overreach of power, any error at all? No- in fact the government has demonstrated that they can and will lock a person up for trespassing on government property.

    Russell accomplished nothing… and, if you’ll recall, neither did Thoureau.

    Civil disobedience only works when the government involved allows it to work- which is seldom. Otherwise, as a political tactic it’s useless and often counterproductive.

  • http://freestateproject.org Seth

    MJ, I never said Russell was a bad person, in fact, the opposite. Did you even bother to READ the essay I wrote?
    Clearly not. I am glad to see Russell out and ok, and said so more than once. I can like the man, and dislike the actions that man takes… and I do.

  • http://freestateproject.org Seth

    Kris, you’re right… but Russell’s real model, contrary to those who think it’s Gandhi or MLK, is Don Quixote. He freely admits he’s tilting at windmills, which is this saddest part, since Quixote at least believed that he was battling giants…

    Unlike Quixote, few of his followers are willing to be Sancho Panza and see the truth… they all are in love with the man who tilts at windmills, makes no dents in them, but then claims victory. And so long as they do, they can celebrate… and nothing has changed one iota.

  • http://www.ilovephysics.com Chris Moore

    “Civil disobedience only works when the government involved allows it to work- which is seldom. Otherwise, as a political tactic it’s useless and often counterproductive.”

    You are 100% wrong.

    Kris believes people should only protest the government when the government says its OK.

    Kanning is doing his best to live his life as free as he can. What is your problem with that? Are you upset he didn’t ask the governments permission? Are you upset he didn’t ask your permission? How has Kanning done anything that personally reflects on you in any way?

  • http://UnCivilDefence.blogspot.com MRJarrell

    Kris:One act of civil disobedience is never the changing factor. Ghandhi did not win with a single act, he only set the stage. Russell has done more to raise the bar and the moral of activism than most people here. He is to be applauded for putting his words into action, as opposed to just talking. The government will be brought to task eventually, by people like Russell. Your assertion that Thoreau accomplished nothing says a great deal about you.

    Seth: Yes, I did read your hatchet piece and your protestations that you do not think ill of Russell, the facts seem to say otherwise. I also read this, posted by you. “Russell then went to the boards where he was discussed, and posted comments like this one on HoT: “I might someday turn over desks. I think that is quite nonviolent and preferable compared to the shooting that occured during the American Revolution.”
    Your paintbrush seems to work overtime where his peaceful methods are concerned.
    Russell seems to be making friends.

  • http://UnCivilDefence.blogspot.com MRJarrell

    That should read “morale”..

  • http://keenefreepress.com Russell Kanning

    Thanks for all the encouragement. I love being out of jail. I am not sure why they let me out. I am just glad that the government thugs are not as bad as I had feared.

    My activism isn’t perfect, but I am trying to not cooperate with the feds since they do bad things to people. I am so glad that hear from you guys. We are going to win. :)

  • http://riotstories.com Yizmo Gizmo

    RUssell,

    I’m so glad you could join us…but…
    I must say…they put people like us in jail…
    because we’re the machines that are broken…
    we need to be sent to th “factory,” if you will…
    because we need to be repaired.
    You see they sent me to the “factory” and
    I was lobotomized…no I was “repaired.”
    Because we need to think the same.
    Now I’m happy.

  • http://www.NHfree.com Dave24

    “First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they attack you, then they attack Thoreau. THEN you win.” LOL

  • LeoTolstoy

    Chris Moore wrote:

    “Seth, from your reasoning I suppose the Woolworth’s sit-in in Greensboro, NC in 1960 was a poor form of protest as well.

    Those poor black kids should have just stood outside and handed out fliers.”

    they were exploiting the public accomodation laws as the achilles heal of their civil rights violations.

    similarly in NH there have been 3 CD protests in Senator Gregg’s and Rep. Bradley’s offices.

    since we all have a common right to a redress of greivances they went to their representatives office to ask for a meeting…and stayed beyond office hours and were arrested.

    see “Concord 8″, “Concord 6″ and now “Dover 6″

    http://tinyurl.com/mzw6t