Freedom to Travel Event, Part 3

[AlanM]

That struck me as funny, too. Arrest a person, let him sit in jail for two days, to await trial, when a guilty verdict can have no jail time. ?

[Michael Fisher]

My guess is the TSA will probably add an additional fine.

Nah. ?After the event, the head TSA guy told Channel 9 that they "decided to only charge him with Criminal Trespass, a Class B Misdemeanor."

[Michael Fisher]

An officer approaches Russell from behind and sets off the metal detector.? Russell turns around and laughs his butt off.

If I remember correctly, Russell also pointed at the officer's gun while he was laughing.?

[AlanM]

" . . . no chance of jail time . . ."? ???

He's in jail right now.

No change of jail time in the sentence.
He can agree to pay $30 before the arraignment, and be released.

Hey, he can get free meals, and meet new people. 

[Kat Kanning]

Everything went great.  Russell is OK.  He's in jail until Monday morning when he'll be arrigned.  I'm assuming they will let him out then.  He could have gotten out today if he'd paid bail, but that wasn't what he wanted to do.  He was charged with a class B misdememor of criminal trespass.  The sherrifs seemed to go out of their way to be nice to me and assumably to Russell also. The deputy chief made a point of telling me I could call him personally if I had any questions about what was going on.  They rather sounded like they liked Russell and commented on how pleasant and cooperative he was after they took him into custody.  I can see the headline, "Government institutions assailed by extremely pleasant protesters." 

I had a blast on the way to the airport.  Two FBI guys were sitting outside watching my house this morning (which freaked me out) so I went over and told them there was a neighborhood watch and asked what they were doing.  They told me they were just waiting for a friend.  But as soon as we left, they were following us, plus another lady in front of us.  I had so much fun pulling off and making them loop back to find us, putting on the turn signal to make them think I was going somewhere I wasn't, etc.  We were laughing our heads off.  Once when we'd just done that and were sitting at a light behind the lady, she saw how we were laughing at her and she finally had to crack a grin.  I waved and she nodded back.  Later at the airport I apologized to the guys for messing with them...told them it was just too much fun.

[Kat Kanning]

BTW, I talked to the Associated Press when I got home and thought it went really well. 

Just waiting for Russell to call now.

[John]

Glad to hear you got home safely!   

[John]

It was nice to meet a few more of the Liberty loving crew to.
I am always amazed at what a bunch of gentle and loving souls you all are.

[Kat Kanning]

Oh, and as far as I could tell, no one followed me home

[Lloyd Danforth]

Some friends of mine were arrested for criminal tresspass in 1980, the day Draft Registration started, for sitting down in a Post Office, the pleaded not guilty and got off.
As it was a place the public was allowed, during the hours of opperation, it didn't meet all of the elements of the crime of criminal tresspass.? It was Federal Court.

Glad Russell is allright.

[Kat Kanning]

Apparently the area right around the checkpoint isn't considered a public place.

[Pat K]

Glad your home safe Kat and that Russell is o-k . Well considering he is in jail, o-k.
You are some brave folks.
To bad you could not have dressed up as the Blues Brothers with all those cop cars following you.

[ravelkinbow]

Glad things went smoothly and much the way you exspected.  Keep us posted on how he is doing.
Take Care

[jgmaynard]

The Boston Herald just published the story 16 minutes ago.........

The beginning of our next wave of free advertising, given free of charge by bureaucrats who don't know when to stop. lol.

JM

Keene man arrested in airport protest
By Associated Press
Saturday, June 11, 2005 - Updated: 02:10 PM EST

MANCHESTER, N.H. - A Keene man who planned to try to board a flight carrying nothing but a Bible and a copy of the Declaration of Independence was arrested Saturday at Manchester Airport.

? ? ?Russell Kanning, 35, was arrested after refusing to comply with security screening procedures and refusing to leave the screening area, according to the Rockingham County sheriff's department. He was charged with criminal trespassing and was being held at the Rockingham County jail.

? ? ?Kanning, an accountant and staunch Libertarian, said last week he hoped his actions would highlight what he considers overly burdensome state intrusion.

? ? ?``They're not going to be happy I'm doing this,'' said Kanning. ``But people shouldn't have to go through all the hassles we have to go through. They just want to control us.''

? ? ?His demonstration was part of a larger effort by Libertarians to promote their belief in individual freedom and limited government. Others planned to start a private mail service, to call attention to the federal government's monopoly on first-class mail delivery, and sell bottles of liquor, in defiance of state liquor laws.

[Kat Kanning]

   At least they got his name right.