Thank you for this explanation. So their "renouncing their citizenship" was a waste of time and money, since they paid for those packets. It amazes me the number of people who fall for these type things.
He may have been friends with some of TA's kids, and grown up around them. It is a very small area, and it seems that everyone knows everyone else. And wasn't it reported that he was basically an "across the road neighbor" of one of the four? JMO
There is an interview that Btian Entin did, it explains the possible thinking PG had. I'll see if I can find it.
Just read online it also takes $2,350 plus turning in a passport, plus appearing in person. So, Grice is still a citizen, as are the others. Seems they didn't even know how to be a sovereign citizen.
To be fair, the $400 Freedom Bundle probably didn't cover all that. JMO
Frightening to think there would be ANY support, but I'm guessing the cult doesn't stop with these defendants.
I have nothing to base it on, other than maybe wishful thinking, but I really feel like the bulk of the God's Misfits are sitting in jail right now. I think there may be one or two other families that may be key players in the group, but my guess is they are back-pedaling as quickly as they can, to disassociate themselves from the killers. There may be several others that share many of their anti-government beliefs, but I expect they will go crawl back under their rocks until the publicity of all this blows over, which may only be after all of the trials have taken place. JMO
Can area residents convict the defendants especially if residents have anti-government leanings?
Good question, but I think they could perhaps be dismissed during voir dire, and never be in the position of gettng to decide.
I think if they identify as sovereign citizens but can convince the court that they can be objective and make their decisions based on the evidence itself and not their sovereign citizen status, they may be permitted to remain on the jury. I don't think it's a crime for anyone to declare themselves a sovereign citizen, so they would be possibly eligible to be selected as a member of the jury - as long as with further questioning at voir dire there isn't something else revealed specific to their status as sovereign citizen.
I’d say of course they can. Almost all American’s have anti-government leanings, depending on the government program and who is in office, if not to the extent these 5 have. Not many would accept the murder of a young mother and a pastor’s wife, IMO.
I agree that not many would accept the murder of a young mother and a pastor's wife, but we know that at least 5 in that very small area did, so I would not completely dismiss the idea that there may be others that would as well, given the same or similar circumstances. And while I think almost every American can find something the government does that we do not believe in, I do not think that makes the average person want to repudiate their citizenship. Do we know that PG was the only misft to share those beliefs?
RSBM
Doubtful a single one of them even has a passport to turn in; those types aren't typically well-traveled.
Even if the "cult" stops with the 5 arrested plus the Cooks, the idea of the Sovereign Citizen and anti-government sentiment does not. What the Misfits would have to have happen is that people who may approve of the political Sovereign Citizen ideology intellectually and who may enjoy fervent discussions still would have to also approve killing people who disagree with them or who cross them in some way. I doubt the love of a good rousing political debate would necessarily translate into a "not guilty" vote in this heinous crime.
I know a few types like this. Not as extreme, but I can tell you they will never change their minds. You can't reason, can't show them information. If a juror believes the defendants were saving the children, backs what they felt was necessary, there's little hope.
