Sovereign
Citizens
Leslie
K. Penny
Chancellor
University
Module
6 Written Assignment 4
Abstract
Domestic terrorism is a
constant threat in our nation that comes in many shapes and sizes. Some groups express their hate towards
government in anti-government groups such as Sovereign Citizens. Which this essay will concentrate on by
providing a brief history of the group, an explanation of their current
activities, what their motivation or political/sociological beliefs are and my
opinion as to why this group has survived or why I believe it will ultimately
fail.
Sovereign
Citizens
Domestic terrorism is a constant threat in our nation
that comes in many shapes and sizes.
Some terrorists groups like Animal Liberation Front (AFL) believe they
are protecting another entity like animals when, in actuality they are causing
millions of dollars worth of damage as well as harming the animals they believe
they are saving (Fitzgerald, 2013).
While other terrorist groups hide behind a religious affiliation like
the Phineas Priesthood, Jewish Defense League and Army of God, spewing hatred
towards others for interracial relationships or homosexuality, etc (Fitzgerald,
2013). Then there are those groups that express
their hate towards government in anti-government groups such as Sovereign Citizens. Which this essay will concentrate on by
providing a brief history of the group, an explanation of their current
activities, what their motivation or political/sociological beliefs are and my
opinion as to why this group has survived or why I believe it will ultimately
fail.
The term Sovereign Citizen refers to a wide range of
anti-government groups or individuals that share common beliefs and behaviors (Finch, Flowers, & Funderburk, 2013). According to US Legal, Sovereign Citizens are
those "who have adopted a right-wing anarchist ideology originating in the
theories of a group called the Posse Comitatus in the 1970's" (Soveriegn
Citizen Law & Legal Definition, 2013). These groups can go by several names: Moorish
Nation, The Aware Group, Washitaw Nation, the North Carolina American Republic,
Republic of United States of America, etc (Finch, Flowers, & Funderburk,
2013).
Sovereign Citizens are a major threat to law enforcement
as some members have out right murdered police officers during a routine
traffic stop. This group of people
sincerely believe that the law does not apply to them and "follows a
strange set of beliefs that promote violence and anarchism amongst the
populace" (Fitzgerald, 2013). The motivation behind Sovereign Citizen's is
purely political which can be seen by their views that our government
structure, including the court system and law enforcement, are a fraud and that
they "retain an individual common law identity exempting them from the
authority of those fraudulent government institutions" (Finch,
Flowers, & Funderburk, 2013).
Sovereign Citizens have their own website, http://www.sovereign-citizenship.net/home.html,
that explains they are a non-violent solution to the government problem. The website has a News tab that I found
lacking substance but their Simple Guide to a Sovereignty Free E-course was
impressive. When I say impressive, I
mean they make it look educational for doubters to read and be swayed by. The website also has a resource and information
link that a lot of thought has gone into.
Or one could click on the Shop tab and purchase their membership or a
book such as "Title 4 flag Says You're Schwag! The Sovereign Citizen's
Handbook. I'm actually surprised they
are not selling bumper sticker and car decals.
Sovereign Citizens become a nuisance when they act out
their belief that they are only subject to common law and/or constitutional law
by refusing to have social security cards or driver's licenses (Sovereign
Citizen Law & Legal Definition, 2013). They firmly believe that the 14th Amendment
"was a means for the government to trick people into giving up their
sovereign state citizenship and accepting citizenship of the United
States" (Finch, Flowers, & Funderburk,
2013). Sovereign Citizens avoid involuntary
subjection to what they believe to be a false government by signing documents
without their real name but, for example, with ''John Doe, Executive Trustee
for the Private Contract Trust known as JOHN DOE" (Finch,
Flowers, & Funderburk, 2013). They may use red ink on documents, add
thumbprints, put zip codes in brackets, or use the word "near" in the
address which is their way of saying "you are no longer dealing with the
enslaved strawman, you now have the real common law sovereign citizen in front
of you" (Finch, Flowers, & Funderburk,
2013).
Other nuisances include clogging up the justice system
with filings at clerks of court or registers of deeds that seek relief from
criminal charges or the demand of funds which are intended to harass or
intimidate public officials (Finch, Flowers, & Funderburk,
2013). They tend to believe in squatters' rights and
will move into a house that's been foreclosed or abandoned, have the utilities
turned on, and file documents that they believe confirms that they are they new
owners of the property (Finch, Flowers, & Funderburk,
2013). They also don't register or license their
vehicles, which they call "conveyances", they instead make up fake
tags and registration documents (Finch, Flowers, & Funderburk,
2013). The do not pay their taxes and have been
found creating fake currency (Sovereign Citizens A Growing
Domestic Threat to Law Enforcement, 2013). Rather incredulous thinking process they have,
but original.
According to the FBI, the most recent severe crime were
the murders of two Arkansas police officers in 2010 who stopped sovereign-citizen
extremists, Jerry Kane and his 16 year old son, Joseph, during a routine
traffic stop (Sovereign Citizens A Growing
Domestic Threat to Law Enforcement, 2013). Other crimes include financial scams,
impersonating or threatening law enforcement officials as well as the deaths of
four other law enforcement officers all by the hands of Sovereign Citizens (Sovereign
Citizens A Growing Domestic Threat to Law Enforcement, 2013).
To conclude, I believe this group has survived because
there is a following of individuals who happily rebel against our
government. Due to the internet and the
ease of information being passed from one to another, "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", the sovereign citizen
threat will most likely grow (Sovereign Citizens A Growing Domestic Threat to Law Enforcement, 2013). The approach to these anti-government
fanatics must be with caution as one can escalate to violence quickly.
Works Cited
Finch, R., Flowers, K., & Funderburk, A. &.
(2013, 09). A Quick Guide to Sovereign Citizens. Retrieved 08 09, 2013,
from UNC School of Government:
http://www.sog.unc.edu/sites/www.sog.unc.edu/files/R09.1%20Sovereign%20citizens%20briefing%20paper%20Sept%2012%20%28Crowell%29.pdf
Fitzgerald, A. (2013,
03 24). 10 Terrorist Organizations Operating in the US. Retrieved 08
09, 2013, from ListVerse:
http://listverse.com/2013/03/24/10-terrorist-organizations-operating-in-the-us/
Sovereign Citizens
A Growing Domestic Threat to Law Enforcement. (2013). Retrieved 08 10, 2013, from FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin:
http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/law-enforcement-bulletin/september-2011/sovereign-citizens
Soveriegn Citizen
Law & Legal Definition. (2013).
Retrieved 08 10, 2013, from USLegal:
http://definitions.uslegal.com/s/sovereign-citizen/
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