Proponents of Gold Standard May Be Violent Extremists; Report ALL Suspicious Activity To the FBI

Mac Slavo
February 7th, 2012
SHTFplan.com

If you support returning the United States monetary system to sound money backed by the gold standard and believe that our country is bankrupt as a consequence of out-of-control spending and fiat money printing, then you may soon receive a visit from your local DHS/FBI office.

This morning your family, friends and neighbors were alerted by representatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation that you and those who share similar ideas as you are potentially dangerous extremists that could threaten the national security of the United States:

Anti-government extremists opposed to taxes and regulations pose a growing threat to local law enforcement officers in the United States, the FBI warned on Monday.

These extremists, sometimes known as “sovereign citizens,” believe they can live outside any type of government authority, FBI agents said at a news conference.

The extremists may refuse to pay taxes, defy government environmental regulations and believe the United States went bankrupt by going off the gold standard.

Source: Reuters

Whether you like it or not, if you promote the ownership of gold, reject the notion that forced taxation is your patriotic duty and prefer to live in a country with limited government interference, you have now been stereotyped and grouped in with the handful of criminals who have recently turned violent against law enforcement officials. And, chances are that those close to you, who may not necessarily share your views, have now been alerted to your volatile nature and potential for violence against local law enforcement officials and the free people of the United States.

Routine encounters with police can turn violent “at the drop of a hat,” said Stuart McArthur, deputy assistant director in the FBI’s counterterrorism division.

“We thought it was important to increase the visibility of the threat with state and local law enforcement,” he said.

In May 2010, two West Memphis, Arkansas, police officers were shot and killed in an argument that developed after they pulled over a “sovereign citizen” in traffic.

Last year, an extremist in Texas opened fire on a police officer during a traffic stop. The officer was not hit.

The narrative is clear: If you share the same ideas as someone who has made a personal choice to turn to violence in the past, then you too must be an equal threat. Furthermore, the FBI is actively instructing businesses in your local area to be on the look-out for suspicious activity which may be precursors to anti-government activities. In a related story from Infowars, Paul Watson reports that  FBI advisory aimed at Internet Cafe owners instructs businesses to report people who regularly use cash to pay for their coffee as potential terrorists.

The flyer, issued under the FBI’s Communities Against Terrorism (CAT) program, lists examples of “suspicious activity” and then encourages businesses to gather information about individuals and report them to the authorities.

…

Indeed, the flyer aimed at Internet Cafe owners characterizes customers who “always pay cash” as potential terrorists.

Of course, the vast majority of people who visit Internet Cafes use cash to pay their bill. Who uses a credit card to buy a $2 dollar cup of coffee? A lot of smaller establishments don’t even accept credit cards for amounts less than $10 dollars.

Other examples of suspicious behavior include using a “residential based Internet provider” such as AOL or Comcast, the use of “anonymizers, portals, or other means to shield IP address” (these are routinely used by mobile web users to bypass public Internet filters), “Suspicious communications using VOIP,” and “Preoccupation with press coverage of terrorist attack” (this would apply to the vast majority of people who work in the news or political blogging industry).

Source: Info Wars
Also See: FBI CAT - Potential Indicators of Terrorist Activities Related to Internet Café [pdf]

In a coincidental stroke of good luck and timing for the national security apparatus of the United States, the recently passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) allows for the rounding up and detainment of  of these potential extremists without charge or trial, because the last thing we need is for courts, juries, and evidence to be involved in ensuring the security of American citizens.

Be warned fellow Americans. No one will be immune to the violative laws, policies and regulations of the police state which is quickly and forcefully embedding itself into all aspects of American life and culture.

In the new America, every man, woman and child is a suspect, person-of-interest and potential terrorist.

http://www.shtfplan.com/headline-news/terror-warning-proponents-of-gold-standard-may-be-violent-extremists-report-all-suspicious-activity-to-the-fbi_02072012

Duane Morris LLPEric SinrodUSA
January 18 2012

Source: http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=701f3890-aaa5-4195-8a27-4707b3401f24&

The PATRIOT Act, as bad is its violation of the 4^th Amendment, was just one step down the slippery slope. The recently passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) continues that slip toward tyranny and in fact accelerates it significantly. The main section of concern, Section 1021 of the NDAA Conference Report, does to the 5th Amendment what the PATRIOT Act does to the 4^th.  The 5th Amendment is about much more than the right to remain silent in the face of government questioning.  It contains very basic and very critical stipulations about due process of law. The government cannot imprison a person for no reason and with no evidence presented or access to legal counsel.

The dangers in the NDAA are its alarmingly vague, undefined criteria for who can be indefinitely detained by the US government without trial.  It is now no longer limited to members of al Qaeda or the Taliban, but anyone accused of “substantially supporting” such groups or “associated forces.”  How closely associated?  And what constitutes “substantial” support?   What if it was discovered that someone who committed a terrorist act was once involved with a charity?  Or supported a political candidate? Are all donors of that charity or supporters of that candidate now suspect, and subject to indefinite detainment?  Is that charity now an associated force?

Additionally, this legislation codifies in law for the first time authority to detain Americans that has to this point only been claimed by President Obama. According to subsection (e) of section 1021, “[n]othing in this section shall be construed to affect existing law or authorities relating to the detention of United States citizens, lawful resident aliens of the United States, or any other persons who are captured or arrested in the United States.” This means the president’s widely expanded view of his own authority to detain Americans indefinitely even on American soil is for the first time in this legislation codified in law.  That should chill all of us to our cores.

The Bill of Rights has no exemptions for “really bad people” or terrorists or even non-citizens.  It is a key check on government power against any person. That is not a weakness in our legal system; it is the very strength of our legal system. The NDAA attempts to justify abridging the bill of rights on the theory that rights are suspended in a time of war, and the entire Unites States is a battlefield in the War on Terror.  This is a very dangerous development indeed. Beware.

Acts of treason are being committed against the American people as you read this.

Today, the National Defense Authorization Act is in the House where they will be debating the intricacies of whether or not Americans can be detained in our own country if they are classified as a “threat”.

What this means is – if you tweet, or Facebook, or speak out controversially (much like this post that I am writing), then you could be seized, taken away without warrant and without Miranda rights, and be dumped somewhere for the rest of your life. Do you not like the TSA and do you say something about it? Do you think that Congress is doing a bad job? Do you think the President is doing a bad job? Are you part of the Tea Party? Are you part of the Occupy Wall Street movement? Do you keep a storage of food at your house? Do you carry a constitution and have a gun? YOU are a threat – and with this new provision, you could be taken away at any time without due-process. THIS IS IT.

What if someone doesn’t like you and tells government officials that you are a threat and/or a terrorist? What if YOU get picked up and detained with no trial?

This bill and its provisions actually passed in the Senate last week with a vote of 97 to 3 – this is real and is happening. Only three people in the Senate should be re-elected in my view. This is a complete affront to the American people – only three Senators had the tenacity and courage to stand up for what is right. Do you see how choosing a lesser of two evils for so long has brought us to this? This is evil.

Do you know that right now, vehicles – commercially marked and otherwise – are actually collecting information and used to spy on whoever they want? The scary thing is that this has been happening and is becoming more prevalent as we speak. I drive up and down I-25 and have seen the trucks and the cameras – have you looked around you lately?

I cried when the TSA agent touched me because I refuse to be scanned like a piece of meat at the airport, and today I sit waiting to see if there are any representatives left with the gumption, integrity, and foresight to protect the American people from this horrid piece of legislation that endangers us more than any terrorist threat could. It makes us slaves and dis-empowers us. It uses fear as a force. This is what tyranny looks like, and it is sneaking up on the American people. Where is the media – the fourth check on government? SHAME ON YOU. Shame on you for being a part of this evil capitulation into slavery.

My country, please, do not act in fear. Do not stand for this behavior. We are good and strong people and do not need these types of provisions and enforcements to protect us. We need love and peace and GOD – no government can protect us and scare us into this type of insanity. I am telling you, and telling the representatives of our country to stand up for us and do the right thing today and from here forward. We will not stand for this. As my hero Patrick Henry said, “Give me liberty, or give me death.”

S. 1867: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012
http://www.govtrack.us/co…

CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES~
https://writerep.house.go…
Download the Bill Here:
National Defense Authorization Act_HR 1540

Support by Donating to Casida for Congress-
http://www.casida2012.com…

General admission for non-members is $10.

This yet to be released documentary from the Foundation for a Free Society http://www.myfreesociety.com and the Tenth Amendment Center http://www.tenthamendmentcenter.com features Thomas Woods, Michael Boldin, Debra Medina, Stewart Rhodes, Sheriff Richard Mack, Charles Goyette, Kevin Gutzman, Robert Scott Bell, Mike Adams, Jason Rink, John Bush, Bryce Shonka, Mike Maharrey, and others. Song “The Message of Freedom”" by Jordan Page

Liberty Dollars may be subject to seizure

Federal officials call medallic pieces ‘contraband’
By Paul Gilkes Coin World Staff | Aug. 29, 2011 7:46 a.m.

Michigan collector James Zylstra earned a third-place award in the medals category with his Liberty Dollar exhibit at the spring 2011 Central States Numismatic Society convention, a month after the Liberty Dollars’ creator was convicted in federal court of counterfeiting and other charges. Liberty Dollars may be subject to seizure.

Coin World images by Beth Deisher.
Liberty Dollars held by collectors may be subject to seizure as contraband by federal law enforcement, officials with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Secret Service said Aug. 24.
Statements by officials for those two federal law enforcement agencies seem to reverse the position taken in comments released from the United States Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, N.C., and published in Coin World in April, that mere possession of Liberty Dollars did not constitute a violation of any federal statute.

That position has apparently changed, although officials of the U.S. Secret Service — which would be the federal agency likely charged with executing any possible seizures — would not provide any definitive comments concerning under what circumstances Liberty Dollars would be seized.

The revised stance is tied to the Liberty Dollar being determined in a federal court to violate federal counterfeiting statutes. Liberty Dollars, metallic medallic pieces, were privately promoted as a form of currency that could be used in commerce as an alternative to Federal Reserve notes.
U.S. Attorney’s Office
Jill Rose, chief of the criminal division for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte, N.C., told Coin World Aug. 24 that the Liberty Dollar medallions are confiscable as contraband regardless if they are being exhibited for educational purposes only.
Rose served as lead prosecutor in the Bernard von NotHaus case. Von NotHaus, creator of the Liberty Dollars, was convicted in federal court in March on multiple charges involving the alternative currency.

Rose said because von NotHaus’ conviction included violations of Sections 485 and 486 of Title 18 of the United States Code, the Liberty Dollar medallions were determined to be counterfeits, contraband and subject to seizure.
The Liberty Dollar represented “a pyramid scheme imbedded with fraud” that had nothing to do with barter or trade, according to Rose.

“Barter is an equal and knowing exchange,” which the Liberty Dollar was proven in court not to be, Rose said.

U.S. Secret Service
Also on Aug. 24, in addition to speaking with Rose, Coin World talked separately with Glen Kessler, assistant special agent in charge in North Carolina for the U.S. Secret Service.

Kessler could not provide a blanket position the Secret Service would take toward those owning Liberty Dollars, whether one piece or significantly more.

He said if a Secret Service agent witnessed something considered to be contraband, such as Liberty Dollars, they would be duty-bound to confiscate it.

Kessler subsequently conferred with his Secret Service superiors as to the agency’s specific position on the Liberty Dollar and potential confiscation.

Kessler informed Coin World the morning of Aug. 25 that because the publication has a worldwide audience, he had to defer additional comments to the U.S. Secret Service Office of Public Affairs.

George Ogilvie, the public affairs officer for the U.S. Secret Service in Washington, D.C., said Aug. 25 the bureau had no comment on Liberty Dollars and indicated that Coin World would have to call back in a few weeks.

Asked what would be different in a few weeks as to under what circumstances seizure of Liberty Dollars would be enforced, Ogilvie responded, “We don’t have anything to say.”

Soon after von NotHaus’ March 18 conviction, Coin World obtained and published comments from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Charlotte stating that while mere possession of Liberty Dollar medallions was not a violation of federal statutes, actual use or intent to use them in the manner for which von NotHaus was convicted would be considered a violation.

Millions of Liberty Dollars in copper, silver and gold versions are in the hands of collectors and supporters of the Liberty Dollar medallions who have been concerned the medallions could be confiscated by federal authorities.
And that possibility is now apparently real.

Exhibit banned by ANA
The reversal of opinion surfaced after a Michigan collector sought to display his award-winning Liberty Dollar exhibit at the American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money in Rosemont, Ill. Aug. 16 to 20. ANA officials denied the collector the opportunity amid fears the exhibit’s contents would be seized off the convention bourse floor by federal authorities. The collector had exhibited the collection in various venues previously.

The collector, James Zylstra, had originally hoped his 11th time since 2009 in setting up the competitive numismatic exhibit of medallions would be during the ANA World’s Fair of Money in Rosemont. Leading up to the convention, as late as immediately prior to the Aug. 16 official opening, ANA exhibit judges and ANA legal counsel A. Ronald Sirna Jr. sought a written declaration from the Department of Justice that Liberty Dollars could be exhibited for educational purposes without fear of confiscation. No such declaration was forthcoming.
ANA officials also spoke with officials of the United States Mint. The U.S. Mint’s legal counsel, Daniel P. Shaver, referred ANA officials to the U.S. Secret Service.
As a result of not receiving a written declaration on federal agency letterhead permitting their display, ANA officials denied Zylstra the opportunity to exhibit the Liberty Dollars at the ANA convention over concerns the medallic contents of the exhibit could be seized.
Zylstra told Coin World he was disappointed by the ANA’s decision. Although Zylstra said he is concerned with what action federal officials might take involving his collection of Liberty Dollars, he said he is planning to display his award-winning exhibit of Liberty Dollars at the fall Michigan State Numismatic Society Convention in November in Dearborn where he has exhibited before and won recognition for the Liberty Dollars exhibit.
But Zylstra may need the same written declaration as the ANA sought before he can exhibit the Liberty Dollars there, as Sirna is also legal counsel for MSNS.
Sirna could not be reached Aug. 25 for additional comment.
CSNS convention exhibit
Zylstra last mounted his exhibit of Liberty Dollar medallions, paper warehouse receipts and promotional materials in April 2011 during the Central States Numismatic Society Convention in Rosemont, Ill., at the same Donald Stephens Convention Center where the ANA World’s Fair of Money was just held.
The 2011 CSNS convention was held a month after von NotHaus’ conviction and the determination of the Liberty Dollar’s status.
Contacted Aug. 25 by Coin World concerning the issues of displaying Liberty Dollars, CSNS legal counsel Steven Bieda said he would bring both the subject of permitting exhibits of Liberty Dollars and also of permitting dealers to sell the pieces on the CSNS convention bourse floor before CSNS officials for review and recommendations, including a review of exhibit bylaws to protect the organizations, as both issues will be recurring topics.

“I am not the exhibits chair, nor have I been asked for an opinion on displaying ‘liberty dollars’ from our exhibits chair,” said Bieda, who studied and enjoyed Zylstra’s exhibit at the CSNS convention. “However, if I were asked, I would not have any problem allowing such an exhibit, especially as one of the stated goals of the exhibits is to foster numismatic knowledge and education.”

Bieda said he has not seen any indication from federal authorities that they plan a concerted move to confiscate privately held Liberty Dollars.

“I note that the pieces are being sold and traded on on-line auction sites such as eBay, and have personally seen these pieces sold at local coin shows and coin shops, all without any apparent legal consequence,” Bieda said. “Thus, it would be my recommendation that should an exhibitor want to place an exhibit involving these pieces, and assuming that all the other relevant exhibitor criteria is satisfied, that they be allowed to do so.

“In any event, the hosting numismatic association would not be responsible should the federal government or any other legal authority take legal action or move to confiscate that or any other exhibit. That risk is entirely on the exhibitor.”
Zylstra earned a third-place award in the medals category for his Liberty Dollar exhibit at the 2011 CSNS convention. Zylstra has also won awards for the exhibit displayed at a Florida United Numismatists convention, and earned a first place when the exhibit was placed on display in Fort Worth, Texas, in March 2010 during the ANA National Money Show.

As Bieda noted, Liberty Dollars are actively traded in the collector marketplace.

Coin World has not been able to determine whether ANA officials or officials at other conventions and shows would ban the sale of Liberty Dollars on the bourse floor.

As of Aug. 25, no movement by federal officials has been seen toward the confiscation of Liberty Dollars offered for sale online, including through auction sites such as eBay.

Liberty Dollar introduction
Zylstra first learned of Liberty Dollars in November 2008 when a business card was placed on the windshield of his car in a shopping center parking lot while he was wintering in Clearwater, Fla.

Zylstra said he was intrigued by the premise of Liberty Dollars, but wanted to create a balanced exhibit offering different points of view.

Zylstra’s “Bonafide or Bogus?” exhibit comprises approximately 20 Liberty Dollar medallions in copper, silver and gold versions in different diameters, weights and face values, as representative examples, although many more multiple designs and varieties were produced than are represented in the exhibit.

Also included in the exhibit were full-color paper warehouse receipts that were backed by precious metals, along with Liberty Dollar promotional materials and historical information.

Zylstra said he includes in his exhibit information explaining von NotHaus’ bartering philosophy and why von NotHaus believes the Liberty Dollar is important; explores the legal ramifications from the side of the federal government, including providing a chronology of legal developments; and examines the Liberty Dollar from the view of consumers who appreciate being able to hold a piece of silver in their hands.

Zylstra said he obtained most of his Liberty Dollars from a Liberty Dollar regional currency officer in Michigan and another in New York who were part of von NotHaus’ Liberty Dollar distribution network.

Bernard von NotHaus
Following a six-day trial, on March 18, a federal jury in Statesville, N.C., convicted von NotHaus — founder of NORFED (National Organization for the Repeal of the Federal Reserve and the Internal Revenue Code), its subsequent Liberty Services, and monetary architect of the Liberty Dollar — of conspiracy against the United States; making coins resembling and similar to U.S. coins; of issuing, passing, selling and possessing Liberty Dollar coins; and of issuing and passing Liberty Dollar coins intended for use as current money.

Von NotHaus is free on bond pending sentencing.

NORFED and Liberty Services promoted Liberty Dollars as an alternative currency for use in commerce, and reported that it’s successfully used in transactions in various locales. Liberty Dollars were sometimes touted by the program’s adherents as “private voluntary barter currency.”

Not barter
On April 12, Ron Whitney, executive director for the International Reciprocal Trade Association (www.irta.com), based in Portsmouth, Va., issued a statement denouncing the Liberty Dollars as not being part of the modern trade and barter industry.

The extensive statement emphasized the outcome of the von NotHaus trial did not set a federal government precedent against private barter currencies.

“Mr. von NotHaus was convicted of the charges of counterfeiting and making and selling currency, barter had nothing to do with the case,” Whitney said. “The modern trade and barter industry was recognized by the U.S. government as a legal alternative form of commerce by the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA), passed in 1982 whereby barter exchanges were deemed third party record keepers and required to comply with IRS 1099B reporting laws.”

Whitney explained that “barter sales conducted through barter exchanges are taxable sales reported annually to the IRS.”

“The Liberty Dollar’s verdict is completely separate from the legally recognized modern trade and barter industry and in our view it does not represent an effort on the government’s part to declare valid TEFRA compliant barter transactions as illegal activity,” Whitney said.

The complete statement can be accessed online at the IRTA website.

PS-OV-ART Patty Sue O'Hair-Vicknair, Artist http://www.flickr.com/photos/psovart/

Announcement from RevolutionPac.com

Northbrook, IL – July 19, 2011 – A group of supporters of presidential candidate and twelve-term congressman Ron Paul have formed Revolution PAC, a political action group dedicated to Congressman Paul’s candidacy and ideas, it was announced today.

“Ron Paul is known for having exceptionally creative and energetic grassroots support. Revolution PAC will help make some of their best ideas a reality,” said Advisory Board Chairman Dr. Thomas Woods. Woods, whose 2009 bestseller Meltdown features a foreword by Dr. Paul and who has spoken at many of the congressman’s events, says Revolution PAC will pursue a variety of strategies to promote the candidate’s ideas.

“We’ve got great ideas for television and radio ads – and other things, too – that will highlight the congressman’s unmatched record and differentiate him from the other candidates,” Woods said.

As a Super PAC, Revolution PAC is not subject to the $2500 maximum that applies to presidential campaigns, so it provides a further outlet for those who have already donated the maximum to a campaign.

“I’m delighted to be on board with Revolution PAC, which is well placed to channel grassroots energy and release a professional product in support of Congressman Paul,” added board member Jack Hunter, the author and radio personality who collaborated with Senator Rand Paul on the latter’s book, The Tea Party Goes to Washington.

In addition to Woods and Hunter, the advisory board also includes:

• Joe Becker, chief legal counsel to Ron Paul 2008

• Mike Church, host, The Mike Church Show, Sirius/XM satellite radio,

• Kevin Gutzman, Ph.D., professor of history and New York Times bestselling author,

• Penny Langford Freeman, political consultant and Rep. Ron Paul’s political director, 1998-2007

• Murray Sabrin, Ph.D., professor of finance at Ramapo College

• Brion McClanahan, Ph.D., professor of history and author of the forthcoming Founding Fathers’ Guide to the Constitution (Regnery, January 2012)

• Robert Wenzel, editor and publisher, EconomicPolicyJournal.com,

• Chris Rye, director/producer, “For Liberty,” a Ron Paul grassroots feature documentary,

• Corey Kealiher, director/producer, “For Liberty,” a Ron Paul grassroots feature documentary,

• Mary E. Putnam, Daughter of the American Revolution, Revolution PAC Fundraising and Media Coordinator;

• Lawrence W. Lepard, Managing Partner of Equity Management Associates,

• Gary S. Franchi Jr., president of Revolution PAC, national director of Restore the Republic, and host of the Reality Report

For more information or to make a contribution to Revolution PAC, visit http://www.RevolutionPAC.com.

Contact:
Mary Putnam
mary@revolutionpac.com
3149 Dundee Rd. #176
Northbrook, IL 60062
Ph: 866-202-9367