Validating the SNaP with a striking illustration
This column can really be seen as a continuation of my early two-parter on the Sacred Nonaggression Principle (SNaP), because it brings up one of the main social justifications for state aggression (eminent domain) and shows the damage to real human flesh and blood of accepting that justification.
Lauren Canario is this marvelous woman I know from the Free State who took a stand against property theft by the state of Connecticut (the celebrated Kelo vs. New London, CT case), and now sits somewhere in that state’s incarceration system awaiting trial.
Lauren has been held for 90 days without trial, often in chains and often in solitary!
So what was her offense?
When the bulldozers came to demolish the home of one of the residents whose property was condemned, Lauren took a seat on the front porch of that residence.
That’s pretty much it.
The gendarmes proceeded to cart her off and put her where the sun don’t shine (9/22/2006). This is the second time she’s been kidnapped by the Rogue State of Connecticut—the first was for attempting to attend a New London city council meeting (9/20/2005). Please access her Wikipedia link here, then find out the details and history of Lauren Canario’s cases. She isn’t cooperating, and Judge Kevin McMahon is letting her jailers torment her. He says he may not release her or put her on trial for months.
From the Bill of Rights:
Amendment V: No person shall be … deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI: In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed…
I suggest that everyone reading this column contact all the public-coercion officials germane to Lauren’s case and politely remind them of the Constitution they’re sworn to uphold. More important, remind them they’re human beings and Lauren is a flesh-and-blood, living, breathing person just like they are. Would they commit such monstrous acts on their own mothers, sisters, daughters?!! Ask them to look in the mirror and be honest about what they see; then turn around and open the cell… for Lauren especially, but might as well let go anyone else they have in there for sin crimes.
Tomorrow (12/23/2006) is Lauren’s birthday. She will be 50. Her story is unique, coming to Connecticut from Nevada expressly to stand up for helpless people being thrown out of their homes by the state. She’s one of the brightest stars in a star-studded, cause-oriented, freedom-fighting lineup—mostly energizing the Free State Project and its colleagues.
Today as a tribute to and celebration of Lauren Canario, I have created a modest tool that I hope will help real people turn off the spigot of legal aggression in communities around the world. I call it the Public-Official Nonaggression Pledge (PONaP).
Public-Official Nonaggression Pledge
As one charged with legislating, executing, or judging laws, I uphold the Bill of Rights and the Sacred Nonaggression Principle. I’ll take no part in any act of force upon persons who have not used force, and I seek conviction of any public official who does so aggress.
Simple, huh? I claim no proprietary interest in the Pledge, so mix and match any words you like better. I certainly think it would be good to sign up all those public-coercion officials germane to Lauren’s case.
Seriously, I think the PONaP or something like it taps into some genuine, unrealized good-government potential here. They have to sign it or nobody votes for ‘em. Then they have to do it. We’ll all sleep better knowing our public officials are committed to alleviating aggression not implementing it. What do you think?
Happy Birthday, Lauren.
Merry Christmas.
We love you.
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