Posted on 06/07/2007 7:02:05 PM PDT by Texas_Dawg
Neighbors of convicted tax evaders Ed and Elaine Brown reported police SWAT teams and at least one armored vehicle converging on a field near their Plainfield home this morning. Authorities haven’t confirmed they are moving in to arrest the fugitives, but local police, the governor’s office and the U.S. Attorney’s office referred calls to the U.S. Marshal’s service, which has been negotiating daily with the Browns since their federal tax evasion conviction in January.
Susan Williams, who lives a mile or so away from the Browns on Center of Town Road, said she saw police officers, SWAT team members, a fire truck, ambulance, helicopter and at least one armored vehicle assembled in a field across from her driveway.
Another nearby resident, Russell Hoisington, said he saw a caravan of armored vehicles and many police cars drive past his house on Stage Road just before 9 a.m.
“There’s been a lot of cars heading up that way. Law enforcement types,” he said.
Hoisington’s two nephews live near the Browns. He said some time after 9 a.m., state police told his nephews to leave their home, but did not tell them why.
The Browns answered a telephone call from The Associated Press by saying: “This is the Lord’s House. This is Sister Elaine and Brother Edward.”
They said nothing was out of the ordinary at the house.
“It’s very quiet. I have no idea. I don’t see anything going on,” said Brown, before hanging up.
But he told a different story earlier today to a supporter, who recorded it and posted some of it online.
"Too many funny little things" had gone on in the past 12 hours said a bit after 9 a.m.
"One of our visitors went out for a walk at about 7:45 ... with my dog, and about an hour later, about 8:45, the dog come ripping down the driveway, and I've waited now for another half hour and - no visitor," Brown said.
He also said the power had gone out twice overnight and an airplane had flown silently over the house, where he said he was holed up with supporters.
"It could be a test to see our response time, our reaction," he said.
Numerous supporters have visited and stayed with the Browns during and after their trial. There was no way of knowing how many were there today.
An Associated Press photographer in a plane over the Browns’ property this morning was told to leave the airspace. On the ground, state police set up a checkpoint at Stage Road and Route 12A and would not let reporters pass.
The Browns insist federal income tax laws are invalid and have holed up in their hilltop home on 110 acres in Plainfield, which has a watchtower, concrete walls and the ability to run on wind and solar power. Brown said he has stockpiled food and supplies.
They were convicted in January of scheming to hide $1.9 million of income between 1996 and 2003. They also were convicted of using $215,890 in postal money orders to pay for their residence and for Elaine Brown’s dental office. The money orders were broken into increments just below the tax-reporting threshold.
U.S. District Judge Steven McAuliffe sentenced them each to 5¼ years in prison. They skipped the April sentencing hearings, and Ed Brown has said he and his wife will refuse to surrender to authorities.
The couple has described the court as a “fiction” unworthy of their attention and returned government mail unopened. The federal judge who sentenced them in absentia has sent along their notice of appeal to an appellate court in Boston.
You tell most people that taxes are collected in at the point of a gun, and they look at you like you have two heads. But just try not paying them, and sooner or later, men with guns are going to show up.
Folks at FR have no problem with this concept. But you wouldn’t believe how many people will say that it isn’t true.
amnesty for New Hampshire!
Can any organization other than the FAA issue a TFR?
I suspect they've finally figured out what their answer is going to be to that shooting, so they have the decks clear to handle this one!
Looks like I have to find a new dentist...sad really, Elaine Brown had a very good reputation as a dentist and could have done well for many years if she kept clean on the books.
The government owns this entire land mass. We are merely tenants. Don't pay your rent, and you will be violently removed from your property... if you don't surrender first.
Ed and Elaine Brown are friendly, Christian people with numerous friends in Plainfield, New Hampshire. She was a dentist with a successful practice serving the community. They simply got sick of being stolen from and having their money spent on all kinds of evil things our government does. So they quit giving the mob boss his money. And now, the government is at the foot of their property threatening to kill them for it.
U-S-A! U-S-A!
Surely this is what Jesus would do, right?
"Government is an association of men who do violence to the rest of us." -- Leo Tolstoy
Wow, sounds like a possible WACO.
Too many "conservatives" only care about it when there's a (D) in the White House.
The only thing sad here is a few men attacking and threatening good people for their time and money. Completely unnecessary.
Why don’t you take up a collection to pay their tax.
Too many "conservatives" only care about it when there's a (D) in the White House.
They aren't conservatives. They are just Fox News Republicans. They've never read Russell Kirk, they've never read Edmund Burke, nor any of the other conservative philosophers.
They are just people rooting for what they somehow still believe is "a lesser evil". Just like their Democrat counterparts, from whom they are almost indistinguishable. It's just a pointless wrestling match that does nothing but get lots of people taxed and killed. But it entertains them, so they carry on, no matter what the results...
Sad.
Because it's not for me to pay. They could easily pay if they wanted to. They don't want to.
Would you have taken up a collection to pay the American revolutionaries' taxes? There were all kinds of people living around them at the time that told them to just shut up and pay the government its taxes, fwiw.
Perhaps one has been established, did you check local NOTAMs or with the FAA?
I hate taxes as much as the next guy but both Jesus (render unto Ceasar) and Paul both said to pay your taxes as a Christian.
Romans 13:
Let every soul be in subjection to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God; and the [powers] that be are ordained of God.
2 Therefore he that resisteth the power, withstandeth the ordinance of God: and they that withstand shall receive to themselves judgment.
3 For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. And wouldest thou have no fear of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise from the same: 4 for he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is a minister of God, an avenger for wrath to him that doeth evil.
5 Wherefore [ye] must needs be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience` sake.
6 For this cause ye pay tribute also; for they are ministers of God`s service, attending continually upon this very thing.
7 Render to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute [is due]; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.
What's not to understand?
They've just put the impression of "compound" into the sheeps' heads. I'm sure they probably have an "arsenal" of "assault weapons" too. Things that are described this way generally don't end well.
Just for grins and giggles, can you please quote the law passed by Congress, and reference it, which states we must pay taxes on our income?
Just quote the passage from the law, please.
How about that 16th Amendment to the Constitution?
I’m sick of freeloaders like these 2, also. Just because YOU THINK you are entitled to not pay taxes doesn’t make it so. Gee, I’m entitled to go take some weapons from the nearest military base, after all, I paid for ‘em, right?
Typical tax protestor Bravo Sierra.
I agree. And I would tell them to pay their taxes. Jesus told us not to resist evil, to give the thief our money, to turn the other cheek, and (later, via Paul) to pay taxes. All in the same vein, imho. Submit to the evil. Trust God to do the rest.
But nowhere are Christians commanded by Jesus to violently threaten their neighbors for money. The list of commands Jesus gave us which such behavior violates is lengthy.
Never legally ratified. That's their claimed loophole...
The big issue is that the Feds simply can not allow citizens to thumb their noses at the government's JBTs. Just ask the folks who were in Waco -- or Ruby Ridge...
Spoken like a true Liberal.
You aren't paying taxes "so others can free load." The government is stealing from you so you demand that it steal from others. Typical, anti-capitalist, collectivist thinking.
"Without the government, who will pay for our roads?!?"
"Without the government, who will pay for our healthcare?!?"
"Without the government, who will pay for old people's medicine?!?"
Etc.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." -- John 10:10
"You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men." -- 1 Corinthians 7:23
I used to be a conservative and Republican myself. Thankfully, the Republican Party showed me that one simply cannot side with both Jesus and the State. The actions necessary to maintain a state are utterly incompatible with the teachings of Jesus (which is why the State has always, including in the US, been hostile to Biblical Christianity). So, forced to choose, it ultimately wasn't a hard call. Especially given what I know about economic liberty and free markets (and the amazing hostility shown towards them by Republicans and many conservatives).
What tax protestor? Ed Brown? He PAYS his property taxes becuase New Hampshire/Grfton County was able to show him THE LAW. He will pay his federal income tax if the authorities would only show him THE LAW. They have yet to do so. Just show him THE LAW.
Oops...’Grfton’ = ‘Grafton’.
My personal take is that not only the IRS code, but about 80% or so of what the Federal Govt does is blatantly un-Constitutional and completely outside what the Founders wrote into the law and/or what they intended.
The only reason I pay my taxes is because I believe the alternative is jail time.
If there were some way to legally avoid 100% of the taxes I pay, I would do so and feel no guilt about it.
“Who needs roads anyway.
“Without the government, who will pay for our roads?!?”
“Without the government, who will pay for our healthcare?!?”
“Without the government, who will pay for old people’s medicine?!?”
Etc.”
I hate to say it but to argue with you is to argue with a juvenile. So just us two kids arguing...works for me. You logic is simplistic and unrealistic. See my sarcastic reference to digging a well and planting crops. I can take a crap in the outhouse to boot. Simply because I enjoy a civilized society and all of the advances that come with that does not imply (as you would in your simplicity) that I endorse a socialized system of government. A collective is necessary so that basic necessities can be enjoyed by all. And paid for by all. Not interested in living in the revolutionary days where we were all self sufficient. Sorry. Not interested in free loaders either. Again, sorry. And no mine is not a liberal position as you would suggest.
Of course. The State kills. And it killed both of them.
I never said you shouldn't pay taxes. What you should not do though is violently threaten and tax people. Big difference.
Really? It might not be as Socialist as some support, but it sure sounds like some level of it to me. You support people being taxed for some things you like, Liberals support you being taxed for some things that they like. Same difference.
Markets work. Collectivism doesn't. If you hate free-loading, quit supporting the State.
Looks like it’s time for another FBI barbeque.
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