NH: Free Staters rush to defense of DL refusenik

[DadaOrwell2]

Always interested to get the volcotake 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 headlight on Keene's West street. Keene police then re-arrested him April 10 after he refused to appear in court on the driving-without-a-license charge.

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 government "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:

Russell arrested 4/10

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.

[Osborn F Enready]

Thanks for the update Dada.

Will post more after reading up.

[brien]

Libertarian activist Russell Kanning of Keene, New Hampshire

Kanning is NOT a member of the LP. He acknowledged to me personally that he is an avowed anarchist. Please don't call him a Libertarian because he isn't a member of the LP. He is a member of the Free State Project, and he does call attention to some issues that dovetail with the LP Platforms, but he is not a member of the LP. To associate him with the LP, in many cases, does a disservice, imo, to the LP.

[The Decider]

And why exactly should non-members of the Libertarian Party feel sorry for this scofflaw?

[tman_ndsu08]

I don't need a government issued license to operate a television.

Why should I need one to operate a car?


They're both things I purchase privately with private financing.

[Jack]

A driver's license is an attempt to ensure you have a basic concept of controlling a vehicle on the road where other vehicles are present and your lack of ability may cause others to die or become severely injured. If you object to licensing, don't drive. Driving isn't a right.
Do I prefer to have an operation performed by a licensed surgeon or someone who claims without evidence that they know what they're doing. I'll opt for the licensed doc every time, even though I know the license is no guarantee of competence.

[tman_ndsu08]

Quote by: Isherwood If you object to licensing, don't drive. Driving isn't a right.

I should have the ability to use my property without anyone else's permission.

Do I prefer to have an operation performed by a licensed surgeon or someone who claims without evidence that they know what they're doing. I'll opt for the licensed doc every time, even though I know the license is no guarantee of competence.

You have the choice to choose.

I don't have a choice to choose if I will get a driver's license before I drive.

[Hmm]

Quote by: tman_ndsu08 I should have the ability to use my property without anyone else's permission.

You do have the ability to use your car without anyone else's permission, although you will most likely be arrested.

[The Decider]

Quote by: tman_ndsu08 I should have the ability to use my property without anyone else's permission.

tman, I have no problem with your car driving on your own property. Do spin outs, hit trees, pop a wheely or two, and drive into your kitchen. Knock yourself out. But when you drive your car onto public property that I also pay for--ie "public streets and highways"--your exclusive private property rights over your car end. You don't want to buy a car license, fine. Get a lawyer, because you'll need some legal advice.

[tman_ndsu08]

Quote by: The Decider But when you drive your car onto public property that I also pay for--ie "public streets and highways"--your exclusive private property rights over your car end.

I'll build my own roads. No speed limits, no licenses required. All are welcome.

[The Decider]

Quote by: tman_ndsu08 I'll build my own roads. No speed limits, no licenses required. All are welcome.

Well, until you build your private network of roads, you'll get a license to use the public ones--or go to jail.

[tman_ndsu08]

I will build a network.

[The Decider]

Quote by: tman_ndsu08 I will build a network.

Good luck. Let me know if your private road network runs into any difficulties with public zoning laws, environmental laws, health and safety laws, engineering codes, and labor statutes. It seems to me that a drivers license will be the least of your problems. Save yourself the expense, the hastle, and the jail time. Buy the license.

[tman_ndsu08]

Ah, so you lied when you said:

Well, until you build your private network of roads

[brien]

Quote by: The Decider And why exactly should non-members of the Libertarian Party feel sorry for this scofflaw?

Anyone can feel sorry for this fellow. I don't support him. The LP supports the rule of law. When the LP sees laws its disagrees with, the LP works toward changing those laws. The LP doesn't condone or support breaking the law to acheive its goals.

This fellow is merely foolish and probably enjoys the publicity his antics generate. I lived in the Keene area for a few years, and if he thinks law enforcement will put up with his foolish actions, he has another lesson coming to him. Keene law enforcement treats all law breakers equally. If he continues to scoff at the courts, he will be prosecuted on more than traffic violations and find himself in over in Pembroke at the state prison for a stretch. The guy is an asshole.

[DadaOrwell2]

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"

[RickSp]

Kanning is a lunatic who gives creates the impression that all libertarians are lunatics. We aren't. If he is typical of New Hampshire Free Staters, the Free State project is guaranteed to fail.

Showing up at an airport and demanding to be allowed to board a plane with no ID save a Bible and a copy of the Constitution is just dumb. Demanding to drive without a license is also pretty stupid. Barging into and disrupting government offices resulted in the predictable outcome.

Are any of these fool stunts likely to advance the cause of liberty? Not a chance in hell. Making the term "libertarian" a synonym for "buffoon" will not do any lover of freedom any good.

[brien]

Thank you Ric, a well written and spot on post. I have had personal contact with this idiot and he is an anarchist that some Free Staters hold in high regard but he certainly is not a member of the LP nor should anyone mistake him as a Libertarian. He is akin to what one steps in while around dog kennels. He needs to be scraped off the Libertarian shoe.

[DadaOrwell2]

Seems like there is a really wide mix of level headed debate and wild insult flinging here...

Maybe the best thing is just to observe russell interacting with bureaucrats and decide for yourself whether he is a bufoon or a genius.

Here's a mini documentary a vermont videographer did about him a couple years ago

YouTube - NHFree - 2nd Annual UN Flag Burning

Russell is the first face you see, the bearded guy with the blue jacket.

I'm the guy with the beige sweater and the glock on my hip :)

[RickSp]

Quote by: DadaOrwell2 Maybe the best thing is just to observe russell interacting with bureaucrats and decide for yourself whether he is a bufoon or a genius.

I watched the clip. The dude is no genius.

It is not clear to me what a UN flag burning accomplishes. You folks xenophobes as well?

It still remains unclear to me how a well earned reputation as a crackpot advances the cause of liberty. On the contrary if people identify "libertarians" as jerks who block sidewalks or burn flags or try to get on planes without ID, the cause is set back. Why not act like reasonable adults? Or is that too much to ask?

Have you folks done anything at all to oppose King George's war or is is burning your Social Security cards more important to you?