Agree on some points. There are gaps in the story. It says they are of Moroccan descent, but are they US citizens? Is the militia group a gathering of Americans or a foreign group? Are these people Americans and this group is an established militia without foreign ties established to protect American citizens? We have that right as well, as much as the three letter agencies wish we didn't.
But they claim to be a "soveriegn nation" and citizens of The Rise of the Moors. Thus our US Constitution doesn't apply to them, at least not in their eyes, so they can do whatever they want. But my point below is you have to follow the laws of whatever Country you are visiting or passing through, and they did not. Hence the arrests. They also took off running into a local neighborhood in full tactical gear and armed to the teeth, also why arrests where made.
Again, they are morons who escalated the situation
Check out their idiotic website if you get a chance, or care enough (though they did seem to change some things on it since blow back started after that incident). They did announce their sovereignty on the site and that they were independent...no longer US Citizens but were still US nationals.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Several members of the group arrested after an armed standoff along a Massachusetts highway earlier this month have filed a federal lawsuit alleging that state courts have no jurisdiction over the case.
The suit filed by Rise of the Moors in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island last week alleges “defamation, discrimination of national origin and deprivation of their rights under the color of law.”
“If the state courts continue their unlawful prosecution and or conviction, they will be violating the claimants civil, national and human rights,” the suit says. It seeks $70 million in damages.
The Massachusetts State Police and several individual troopers, the judge who presided over their arraignments, the state as a whole, and several media organizations are named as defendants.
Rise of the Moors is based in Rhode Island.
A spokesperson for the state police in an email said because the agency had not seen the suit, it could not comment on the specific allegations, but said “the defendants were arrested because — and only because — they broke the law and created a clear public safety risk.”
A spokesperson for the state court system said the judge would have no comment.
The standoff started just after 1 a.m. on July 3 on Interstate 95 in Wakefield when a trooper stopped to offer assistance to two vehicles refueling on the side of the highway.
The men from Rhode Island, New York and Michigan, who were dressed in military-style clothing and body armor and were armed with long guns and pistols, did not have licenses to carry firearms in Massachusetts, police said.
The self-described leader of the group said they were a militia traveling from Rhode Island to Maine for “training” on private land, although the exact nature of the training remains unclear, according to the police report.
Ten men and a juvenile were arrested after the standoff ended peacefully hours after it started.
They are being held without bail after a series of contentious arraignments and dangerousness hearings at which members of the group said they are sovereign citizens of Moroccan descent and not subject to federal or state laws.
They face charges that include unlawful possession of a firearm.
These people are idiots. I live in MA and think many of our laws are stupid and the State Police are elitist bullies. But that said...even if you are a "sovereign nation", you have to have borders, no? So if you are driving through another "Country", in this case driving through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States of America, you have to follow their laws to avoid trouble. I have an LTC in MA, but I CANNOT carry my firearm in any other State with this permit. I have to take my weapon off my hip and lock it up until I get back to the State (or in their case, their "nation") where the permit applies. They are claiming to have "rolling borders" and thus don't have to follow ANYONE's laws? Imagine if I went to Great Britain and walked around with my gun using my status as US Citizen to do so..I'd be in jail forever.
These fucktards were standing on the side of a highway trying to put gas in a dead car, fully armed and geared up staring down other motorists as they drove by. And not to profile people, but yes...they look like fucking terrorists
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. They aren't americans? Deport 'em. They are americans? Probably federal informants/patsies. This whole thing smells like misdirection and/or stupidity. Just my $.02.
If they are citizens of the USA their gun rights should travel with them within the entire country. The Constitution grants us this right.
Exactly.
This story is a slippery slope on stuff.
On one hand,they had every right to do what they were doing.
On the other hand they made it look like they were up to something.they definately did not help thier cause or whatever in any way.
Agree on some points. There are gaps in the story. It says they are of Moroccan descent, but are they US citizens? Is the militia group a gathering of Americans or a foreign group? Are these people Americans and this group is an established militia without foreign ties established to protect American citizens? We have that right as well, as much as the three letter agencies wish we didn't.
But they claim to be a "soveriegn nation" and citizens of The Rise of the Moors. Thus our US Constitution doesn't apply to them, at least not in their eyes, so they can do whatever they want. But my point below is you have to follow the laws of whatever Country you are visiting or passing through, and they did not. Hence the arrests. They also took off running into a local neighborhood in full tactical gear and armed to the teeth, also why arrests where made.
Again, they are morons who escalated the situation
You are probably right. The article did not contain many details.
Check out their idiotic website if you get a chance, or care enough (though they did seem to change some things on it since blow back started after that incident). They did announce their sovereignty on the site and that they were independent...no longer US Citizens but were still US nationals.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Several members of the group arrested after an armed standoff along a Massachusetts highway earlier this month have filed a federal lawsuit alleging that state courts have no jurisdiction over the case. The suit filed by Rise of the Moors in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island last week alleges “defamation, discrimination of national origin and deprivation of their rights under the color of law.” “If the state courts continue their unlawful prosecution and or conviction, they will be violating the claimants civil, national and human rights,” the suit says. It seeks $70 million in damages. The Massachusetts State Police and several individual troopers, the judge who presided over their arraignments, the state as a whole, and several media organizations are named as defendants. Rise of the Moors is based in Rhode Island. A spokesperson for the state police in an email said because the agency had not seen the suit, it could not comment on the specific allegations, but said “the defendants were arrested because — and only because — they broke the law and created a clear public safety risk.” A spokesperson for the state court system said the judge would have no comment. The standoff started just after 1 a.m. on July 3 on Interstate 95 in Wakefield when a trooper stopped to offer assistance to two vehicles refueling on the side of the highway. The men from Rhode Island, New York and Michigan, who were dressed in military-style clothing and body armor and were armed with long guns and pistols, did not have licenses to carry firearms in Massachusetts, police said. The self-described leader of the group said they were a militia traveling from Rhode Island to Maine for “training” on private land, although the exact nature of the training remains unclear, according to the police report. Ten men and a juvenile were arrested after the standoff ended peacefully hours after it started. They are being held without bail after a series of contentious arraignments and dangerousness hearings at which members of the group said they are sovereign citizens of Moroccan descent and not subject to federal or state laws. They face charges that include unlawful possession of a firearm.
I really can't stand Massachusetts or its cops and I'm a LE veteran from the west.
These people are idiots. I live in MA and think many of our laws are stupid and the State Police are elitist bullies. But that said...even if you are a "sovereign nation", you have to have borders, no? So if you are driving through another "Country", in this case driving through the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States of America, you have to follow their laws to avoid trouble. I have an LTC in MA, but I CANNOT carry my firearm in any other State with this permit. I have to take my weapon off my hip and lock it up until I get back to the State (or in their case, their "nation") where the permit applies. They are claiming to have "rolling borders" and thus don't have to follow ANYONE's laws? Imagine if I went to Great Britain and walked around with my gun using my status as US Citizen to do so..I'd be in jail forever.
These fucktards were standing on the side of a highway trying to put gas in a dead car, fully armed and geared up staring down other motorists as they drove by. And not to profile people, but yes...they look like fucking terrorists
Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. They aren't americans? Deport 'em. They are americans? Probably federal informants/patsies. This whole thing smells like misdirection and/or stupidity. Just my $.02.