Civil Disobedience

[mvpel]

Has anyone prepared a handout for the press and passerby regarding the Constitutional and moral problems with licensing laws?

[CNHT]

Think of the AG as a useful tool to be used by all------keeps all public officials and businesses accountable to the laws on the books including but not limited to Consumer Protection. Ann L., K. Ayotte, J. Coburn are all straight shooters.? ?Can't burn all your bridges at same time, specially when you're still standin' on one.? ?Dawg Rule 312.

Not so fast. We at CNHT have other ideas about the AG's office. Go read our message board. In this case you were lucky.

[tracysaboe]

You'd then also likely be violating zoning laws by operating a home based business without permission.

There you go!

(I give piano lessons inside of my house on occasion. I wonder if that's illegal. Never thought of it.

shhhhhh.

Tracy

[Kat Kanning]

Has anyone prepared a handout for the press and passerby regarding the Constitutional and moral problems with licensing laws?

Oh, I'll do that.

[Michael Fisher]

Uhh guys...

We made the front page of the paper today.

[Kat Kanning]

Which paper?

[Russell Kanning]

Which paper?

BTW weather looks good for Monday

[Michael Fisher]

The Exeter Newsletter.  I received a call at 8am from a local friend who is an attorney that wants to help in my defense.

[Russell Kanning]

sounds great....if he knows what you are trying to accomplish and how you want to do it.

[Kat Kanning]

Doesn't look like it's online yet.

[Kat Kanning]

If you want to try and call in to WKBK the number is  (603) 357-1290.  Dan Mitchell's going to be talking about it more after the commercial.  So far it's a great show!

Anyone can call in.

[Kat Kanning]

http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/exeter/05062005/news/40963.htm

Polished protest

By Johanna Maranto
newsletter@seacoastonline.com

NEWMARKET - When Newmarket resident Mike Fisher decided to give manicures for profit publicly next Monday without obtaining a state license, he expected his planned act of disobedience to result in arrest for criminal misdemeanor.

The New Hampshire attorney general?s office had petitioned the Merrimack County Superior Court to issue a temporary and permanent injunction against Fisher?s actions, but a court hearing scheduled for today was canceled late yesterday afternoon..

If it is issued, Fisher would not only be breaking the law when he carries out his plan but would be in violation of a court order, as well.

Fisher is planning to set up a manicure booth in front of the State Board of Barbering, Cosmetology and Esthetics offices in Concord on Monday, May 9, at noon. It is a criminal misdemeanor in New Hampshire to provide manicures, haircuts, massages or tanning services without a license from the board.

Fisher, who has sought publicity for his action, is attempting to call attention to the hardship caused by licensing restrictions on entry-level workers and entrepreneurs.

"It?s hard to start a business. These types of restrictions, anything that gets in the way, deter or kill businesses," he said. "People who are starting businesses just want to do it."

Fisher, who is on the board of the Newmarket Business Association, moved with his wife from Vermont to New Hampshire last year in order to start his home-based computer trouble-shooting business with a minimum of regulatory red tape.

"It?s hard in Vermont to start a business. In New Hampshire, it was just a $50 fee for a trade name registration."

But as Fisher began to service small businesses in the area, he became aware of state licensing laws that impede many other types of small business start-ups.

A member of the N.H. Underground, which defines itself as an organization that engages in "pro-liberty NH activism" (www.NHFree.com), and a proponent of the Free State Project, Fisher is concerned about civil rights and liberties.

He said, "In a free country, people do not need permission to start a business. We are no longer free to make a living without government approval."

In a letter to the licensing board informing it of his planned action, Fisher wrote, "All that is necessary to protect responsible consumers in a free society is the natural system of professional reputations and optional private sector certifications."

The board, which refused to comment on the matter, responded to his letter by contacting Elyse Alkalay of the attorney-general?s office, who serves as legal counsel to the board.

PHOTO

Mike Fisher of Newmarket demonstrates the kind of manicures he plans to administer in front of the New Hampshire board of Barbering and Cosmetology and Esthetics next week despite the treat of arrest.
Photo by Jamie Cohen

Alkalay said that engaging in a manicure without a license is a violation of criminal law. She hopes Fisher will attend the injunction hearing and recognize the seriousness of his planned actions, but said that the injunction would be issued ex parte, that is, whether or not he attends.

Fisher voiced concern that the charges listed in the copy of the injunction petition he received were "more than what is reasonable."

The petition states that he will be hiring people without a license, which he said is untrue, that he will be setting up shop without a license, operating without a license and demonstrating in Concord without a permit.

Fisher said he knows the licensing laws were enacted with good intentions. But he said it took him only 30 minutes to look up sanitary manicure procedures on Google.

He will buff, file, shape and polish nails, but said he is not skilled enough to trim cuticles. Fisher will sanitize his manicure tools, using disposable tools when possible, and sanitize both his and customers? hands before proceeding.

Fisher said he was inspired to this action after recently re-watching the movie "Gandhi," and was modeling his behavior according to Gandhi?s principles. Fisher said, "Gandhi was nonviolent, cordial and never tried to create malice."

Fisher plans to refuse bail and knows that a hearing will be scheduled within 48 hours of his arrest. Beyond that, he is not sure what will happen. But he hopes the course of the legal proceedings will pique the public?s interest and increase awareness of civil-rights infringements imposed by the state licensing requirements on small business start-ups.

Fisher said, "It?s time to put an end to licensing laws, once and for all."

[FTL_Ian]

The hardened face of a criminal!
This lawless thug must be stopped!

Awesome, awesome coverage.  Hopefully the other news outlets will jump on board as a result.

The state just looks pathetic in this coverage.  This is going exactly as planned.   

[Michael Fisher]

This is my favorite part:

Alkalay said that engaging in a manicure without a license is a violation of criminal law.

Fisher said he knows the licensing laws were enacted with good intentions. But he said it took him only 30 minutes to look up sanitary manicure procedures on Google.

[Dave Ridley]

Outlaw Manicurist on WKBK, front page of Exeter paper

Today's pre-publicity on the "Outlaw Manicurist" included a half hour segment on WKBK-AM in Keene and this article at least one of the Seacost papers.

It was the lead story last night on Taxpayer Radio 90.7 FM, Amherst.