Time: Fri Oct 17 21:28:56 1997
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Date: Fri, 17 Oct 1997 21:22:50 -0700
To: (Recipient list suppressed)
From: Paul Andrew Mitchell [address in tool bar]
Subject: SLS: Tacoma, Washington newspaper article on "Paper Terrorism".

<snip>
>
>------- Forwarded Message Follows -------
>Date:          Fri, 17 Oct 1997 09:33:25 -0700
>To:            idzrus@nwlink.com
>From:          iRESIST <idzrus@nwlink.com>
>Subject:       TNT covers Paper Terrorism
>Cc:            pjc@p.tribnet.com
>
>This is almost unbelievable but here it is!!
>Now, do you suppose the TNT will continue and publish the actual document
>that the memo/attachment came from??
>Will questions be asked and answers obtained to why Schmidt sent this
>'memo' out on WSP letterhead?  Is there a problem in this??  If Schmidt
>didn't mean to include Christians that quote Bible passages, WHY was it in
>the list? And, what is extremist about the Citizens Handbook other than it
>contains copies of the Constitution??  Me thinks we are seeing more C.Y.A.
>in full operation here.
>Does 'investigative reporting' live at the Tacoma Morning News Tribune???
>Maybe, just maybe - - - - -we can hope.
>Jackie Juntti
>
>....tnt article ...............
>
> 'Paper terror' warning riles lawmakers 
> 9 of most conservative members of Legislature say
> memo is affront to patriotism, Christianity 
>
> Hal Spencer; The Associated Press 
>
>State Rep. Karen Schmidt wanted to warn fellow lawmakers
>about anti-government zealots who harass people by filing
>frivolous lawsuits and liens and issuing "common law"
>subpoenas and judgments.
>
>But the moderate Republican touched off an angry protest
>from nine of the Legislature's most conservative members.
>They told her they were "profoundly" offended at a
>Washington State Patrol memorandum she had sent to all
>other 97 lawmakers. The memorandum described the
>dangers and tactics of people who engage in "paper
>terrorism," as some call it.
>
>The nine accused her of calling all "patriots or Christians"
>anti-government extremists who engage in paper terrorism.
>
>The nine, in a letter to Schmidt, said she exploited "the
>antisocial conduct of a few to besmirch the honor" of patriots and
>Christians everywhere, themselves included.
>
>The nine are Republican Sens. Val Stevens of Arlington,
>Harold Hochstatter of Moses Lake and Joe Zarelli of
>Vancouver, and Republican Reps. Bob Sump, Republic;
>Tom Mielke, Battle Ground; Mike Sherstad, Kenmore; John
>Koster, Monroe; Jim Dunn, Vancouver; and Marc Boldt,
>Brush Prairie.
>
>In a letter back to the nine, Schmidt, of Bainbridge Island, said she was
>"personally offended" that they had taken offense, saying "nothing could be
>further from the truth."
>
>She said she simply was trying to make them aware of a
>group of people who increasingly are making life hard for
>elected officials and everyday citizens with whom they
>disagree.
>
>The exchange, which gave a glimpse of the ideological split
>between ultraconservative and moderate Republicans in the
>House, began in mid-September, when Schmidt sent a note
>to all lawmakers on the subject of "paper terrorism."
>
>As chairwoman of the state Organized Crime Advisory
>Board, Schmidt wrote that it had been brought to her
>attention "that anti-government organizations have been
>utilizing a tactic called 'paper terrorism' to effectively disable
>government. Commonly, public officials are personally targeted. This
>widespread practice is accomplished by overburdening our communications,
>business or judicial systems with frivolous or repetitive petitions,
>property liens and small claims court actions."
>
>Schmidt attached a description of the problem prepared by
>the Washington State Patrol Organized Crime Intelligence
>Unit.
>
>The agency said signs of paper terrorism include everything
>from "bogus liens placed upon personal property" to
>"common law courts that issue homemade subpoenas to
>citizens, businesses and government officials."
>
>The tactics have been employed around the country by
>extremist groups not only against government officials but
>private citizens as well, the agency noted.
>
>Among extremist groups using the tactics were the Freemen
>of Montana and the Republic of Texas groups, both of which
>later engaged in lengthy armed standoffs with the FBI.
>
>The nine lawmakers took particular offense at the State
>Patrol's observation that these extremists identify themselves as
>"patriots" or as part of what they call the "Patriot movement."
>
>Even worse, the nine said in their letter to Schmidt, the Patrol observed
>that among "telltale" signs of the extremist activity are documents that
>quote "biblical passages."
>
>"We ourselves are patriots," the nine lawmakers declared in
>their letter to Schmidt. "Today, as ever in the past, American patriots are
>the guardians of American liberty." They are everywhere and they "stand
>ready to defend" against "all enemies, foreign and domestic."
>
>The nine said they would not "silently consent to the
>intimidation that speaking biblical passages identifies the
>speaker as an anti-government extremist. We recognize this
>as an open attack on individuals with deeply held religious
>convictions."
>
>Moreover, the nine continued, "this is an attack on our system of law, for
>the Bible occupies a central position in the system of law that secures our
>basic liberty, both in the United States, and in the State of Washington.
>As Christians and citizens of the State of Washington and of the United
>States, we are deeply offended that you would suggest otherwise."
>
>Schmidt, who was out of the country Thursday and could not
>be reached, said she was "personally offended by the
>accusation" that she or the State Patrol were "characterizing all patriots
>or Christians who speak biblical passages as anti-government extremists.
>
>"Nothing could be further from the truth," she said.
>
>Schmidt went on in her retort to attest to her own patriotism and
>membership in the Episcopal Church as proof that she meant no offense
>against Christians or patriots.
>
>Schmidt, however, disagreed strongly with another assertion
>from the nine - that anti-government sentiment described by
>the State Patrol is reason to convene hearings to determine
>why people are unhappy enough with government to harass
>citizens and government officials.
>
>"I have no empathy for people who, by their actions, threaten the lives of
>other people, while cloaking their activities behind such legitimate,
>honorable and noble ideals as patriotism or religious conviction. They are
>criminals who should be dealt with accordingly," she said.
>
>             c Associated Press
>
>             October 17, 1997
>
<snip>

===========================================================================
Paul Andrew Mitchell, Sui Juris      : Counselor at Law, federal witness 01
B.A.: Political Science, UCLA;   M.S.: Public Administration, U.C.Irvine 02
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_____________________________________: Law is authority in written words 09
As agents of the Most High, we came here to establish justice.  We shall 10
not leave, until our mission is accomplished and justice reigns eternal. 11
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