Posted on 08/25/2009 8:33:35 PM PDT by marktwain
Libertarian activist and radio host Ernest Hancock fired up concern about right-wing extremism around the country last week after he revealed to CNN's Rick Sanchez that he had planned the interview with someone who carried an AR-15 rifle to the protests outside of President Barack Obama's Aug. 17 appearance at the Phoenix Convention Center. At the Tribune's request, Hancock explains his motivations.
Ernest Hancock
In 1994, I learned that holding a sign, "Legalize Freedom ... Register Libertarian," at a Janet Reno speaking event would get you arrested by Phoenix police. I was quickly released with no charges and returned to the event, but it was clear to me as a young man that we were on a very dark path.
One tool to illuminate this dark path was the filing of ballot initiatives that would inject into the political discourse some concepts, such as Second Amendment rights, otherwise ignored during election cycles. One of those 1994 initiatives was "unrestricted concealed carry of firearms," which evolved into Arizona's permit system. SAFE (Second Amendment is For Everyone) was the political action committee that was created in support of this initiative.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio called to inform me that SAFE and I were at the top of a state-by-state listing of militias created by the Southern Poverty Law Center that had been sent to every local law enforcement agency in the nation. Fortunately, Arpaio knew me well enough to know I was not a danger. Ironically, it was after this that I bought my first gun.
Then, I saw a very close friend incarcerated for more than five years in the infamous "Arizona Viper Militia" case of 1996. Those of us who knew the defendants knew they were an easy target because their views were considered too far out of the mainstream. But it would take lies and a willing media to accomplish the demonizing, and conviction, of a friend we knew to be peaceful.
The "Viper Reserve" was created to document the case and to archive it on the Internet. This included a $5 million lawsuit in 1998 against Janet Napolitano for her role as prosecutor in the case. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed by a federal judge.
William Kostric's decision to bring a firearm to a protest outside of President Barack Obama's Aug. 11 health care town hall in New Hampshire was enough of an opportunity for the same people surrounding the "Viper" case in Washington, D.C., to repeat the rhetoric of "threats" from the Arizona militia. Rahm Emanuel was a senior adviser to President Bill Clinton at the White House from 1993 to 1998, and Napolitano (now head of Homeland Security) was the "Viper" prosecutor. The Southern Law Poverty Center made a Phoenix visit recently, and I was getting a very strong feeling of deja vu.
When making my plans for Obama's Phoenix visit, these recent events prompted a call from me to the Phoenix police's "Confrontation Prevention Squad." People I respect in the Phoenix Police Department understand why I would be concerned about the same rhetoric we all experienced 13 years ago - with the same people, in even more powerful positions of government, with new unchecked powers. Our respect for each other has improved over the years, and we have come to understand each other's concerns.
I would bring my personal firearm to the planned protest outside of the Phoenix Convention Center, broadcast my radio show live, and the Phoenix police would protect my right to do so. This inspired others to do the same, including a peaceful young black man with an AR-15 who wanted to make it clear that the increasing financial enslavement of his generation would eventually be resisted.
As expected, the "Viper Militia" case was resurrected, and for all of our protection it needed to be. And the perception that local law enforcement and individual rights are now on the same side makes us all more secure.
“Maybe the Libertarians you hang out with are deformed in some way.”
I avoid Libertarians when I can; I like people who can enunciate a firm position and defend it. I don’t hang out with them.
“That’s subjective as hell. It all depends on the candidates. Would the average libertarian vote for a blue dog dem (pro life, anti-gun control, anti-police state, ect) over a neoconservative or overmilitant Repub? Probably. But that same libertarian would take a paleoconservative over the blue dog ever time out.”
“I always thought of libertarians who wanted a strong constitution, carried out to the letter.
Do you disagree with this premise?
YES, I DISAGREE. I BELIEVE THAT LIBERTARIANS LIKE A NICE COMFY MODERATE POSITION SO THEY WON’T BE CHALLENGED AND REQUIRED TO TAKE A DEFINIT POSITION.
Am I missing something?”
CHECK YOUR PURSE.
“I am registered a republican..”
Then you aren’t a Libertarian, you’re a Republican. Maybe you’re a moderate Republican, but you’re not a Libertarian since you decided you wanted to make a declaration of WHO and WHAT you were/are!
I don’t hang out with them.
So you are basing your statement on what experience? I would bet the opposite that they vote Republican 95% of the time. Without property rights, there is no Republic. Which party is hell bent on redistribution of wealth which is the gutting of any semblance of property rights?
Your mother is subjective as hell. Sorry, just always wanted to do that.
“Libertarians always claim the high ground. “We are independent. We love liberty.”
But, they always have an affinity for the lefty side of the equation. Over the past 20 years, I bet Libertarians have voted Democrat 90% of the time while claiming all the while that they are strictly impartial. Well, la dee dah.”
I always vote for someone who is fiscally conservative and a defender of the Constitution. So I have never voted for a democrat.
“Which party is hell bent on redistribution of wealth which is the gutting of any semblance of property rights?”
And the answer is?
i am far from moderate... Lets define:
1.strict adherence to enumerated powers: my value, but not a Republican party value.
2. At a local level, defund city hall, make the bastards live in tents. Not a Republican value
3. Strong Military. Overwhelming military power with the ability to project it around the world. That at least used to be a Republican value
4. End Abortion. That used to be a Republican value.
5. End the use of the interstate commerce clause to regulate and tax everything. Not a Republican value.
6. Starve all levels of government so that they barley even function. Not a republican value.
So there you go... What does that make me? A member of the nihilist wing of the Republican party I suppose.
“So there you go... What does that make me? A member of the nihilist wing of the Republican party I suppose.”
—
Perhaps it makes you Darius Birch.
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