The Vigilante's Rise: Citizens Turned Lawmakers

The term sovereign citizen refers to a loose network of individuals who believe that federal, state, and local governments operate illegally. Sovereign citizens do not recognize federal, state, or local laws, policies, or regulations. They follow their own set of laws and only come together in loosely affiliated groups to train, help each other with paperwork, or socialize and talk about their ideology. They may refer to themselves as constitutionalists or freemen, indicating that they are free from government control. The sovereign citizen movement is considered a domestic terrorist movement by the FBI, and its members have been responsible for violent—including fatal—incidents against law enforcement.

The Sovereign Citizen movement's origins and motivations

The Sovereign Citizen movement is a loose group of anti-government activists, litigants, tax protesters, financial scammers, and conspiracy theorists. The movement emerged in the US in the early 1970s and has since spread to other countries. Sovereign citizens believe that they are not subject to any government statutes unless they consent to them and that they are not bound by any laws or taxes.

Origins

The Sovereign Citizen movement emerged in the US in the early 1970s and can be traced to far-right, anti-government groups such as the Posse Comitatus and the constitutionalist wing of the militia movement. Posse Comitatus was a far-right, anti-Semitic, and racist group that opposed income tax, debt-based currency, and debt collection, which they believed to be tools of Jewish control over the US. The movement was also associated with white supremacism and, although it has since expanded to attract people of various ethnicities, it still retains these roots.

Motivations

Sovereign citizens believe that the original US government set up by the country's founders, which they refer to as "common law", was slowly and secretly replaced by an illegitimate government sometime in the 1800s. They believe that there is a legal way to opt out of the current legal system by ending what they view as "contracts" with the government, such as driving licenses and other identity documents. They also believe that there is a secret government-held fund that they can access once they become sovereign.

The movement is particularly appealing to those who are struggling financially or are frustrated by government bureaucracy. It also attracts those who are angry or fearful parents, from ex-spouses frustrated at having to pay child support to mothers or fathers involved in custody disputes.

The Redemption Theory and its consequences

The Redemption Theory is a concept in Christian theology that refers to the deliverance of Christians from sin and its consequences. It is believed that Jesus Christ's sacrifice of his life acted as a ransom or price to free humanity from bondage to sin, death, and the devil. This theory is also present in Judaism and Islam, with some variations.

In the context of the sovereign citizen movement, the redemption theory takes on a different meaning. Adherents of this theory, also known as "sovereign citizens," believe that they can become immune to most or all laws of the state by renouncing their citizenship and declaring themselves citizens of their individual state. They argue that the federal government is illegitimate and that they are only subject to common law or "God's law."

The consequences of adopting the redemption theory within the sovereign citizen movement can be significant. Sovereign citizens may refuse to pay taxes, ignore laws, and reject various forms of identification and registration, such as social security numbers, driver's licenses, and vehicle registration. They may also create their own pseudolegal documents, such as false passports or license plates. While the majority of sovereign citizens are not violent, their methods are illegal and can lead to various offenses, including tax evasion, forgery, and threatening public officials.

The rejection of federal authority and belief in individual sovereignty espoused by sovereign citizens can have far-reaching implications for society and the rule of law. It challenges the established legal system and the legitimacy of the government, threatening social cohesion and the functioning of democratic institutions.

The Sovereign Citizen movement's criminal activities

The Sovereign Citizen movement is a loose group of anti-government activists, litigants, tax protesters, financial scammers, and conspiracy theorists. The movement is based mainly in the United States but has expanded to other countries. Sovereign citizens have their own pseudo-legal belief system based on misinterpretations of common law and claim not to be subject to any government statutes unless they consent to them. While the majority of sovereign citizens are not violent, the methods the movement advocates are illegal.

• Scams and frauds: Sovereign citizens have been known to run multi-faceted fraud schemes targeting financial institutions and government agencies. For example, Kartarius Johnson, a sovereign citizen, received a 20-year prison sentence for wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and making false statements to government agencies. Sovereign citizens have also targeted the IRS by using bogus tax returns to obtain massive but undeserved refunds.
• Squatting: Sovereign citizens have been known to illegally occupy empty homes using bogus deeds or other filings and then living in them rent-free or even renting them out to others.
• Paper terrorism: Sovereign citizens engage in "paper terrorism" by filing bogus legal documents and filings or misusing legitimate documents to harass, intimidate, and retaliate against their perceived enemies. For example, Adrienne Avril Perer, a Colorado sovereign citizen, sent bogus IRS forms to two police officers and a judge following traffic stops. Bogus liens are another common form of paper terrorism used by sovereign citizens.
• Threats and violence: Sovereign citizens have a reputation for threats and violence, especially towards law enforcement officers and government officials. For example, in 2021, a Michigan sovereign citizen, Misty Thompson, was arrested for stalking a local judge overseeing a child custody case involving Thompson. When she was arrested, law enforcement officers discovered she had a loaded handgun, knives, and a baseball bat in her car.
• Traffic violations: Sovereign citizens consistently violate traffic laws by refusing to register or insure their vehicles or use driver's licenses or valid license plates.
• Anti-tax schemes: Sovereign citizens engage in various forms of tax resistance, causing disputes with government administrations. They use a variety of fraudulent schemes, including filing false securities, to avoid paying taxes.
• Creation of pseudo-legal documents: Sovereign citizens are known to create their own irregular, pseudo-legal documents, including false passports, license plates, or birth certificates.
• Criminal conspiracies: Sovereign citizens have been implicated in various criminal conspiracies, including terrorist plots and shootouts with law enforcement. For example, in March 2023, officers from the Farmington, Utah, Police Department shot and killed a sovereign citizen, Chase Allen, during a traffic stop when he attempted to pull a handgun from his hip holster.

Intimidation, obstruction and protection

The search results did not reveal a specific term for when citizens become the law. However, the term "martial law" refers to the temporary substitution of military authority for civilian rule, usually during times of war, rebellion, or natural disaster. Under martial law, military commanders have unlimited authority to make and enforce laws, suspending all existing laws and civil authority.

Regarding "Intimidation, obstruction, and protection" in the context of law enforcement and citizens, here are some key points:

Intimidation and Obstruction:

• Sovereign Citizen Movement: In the United States, the sovereign citizen movement comprises anti-government activists, tax protesters, and conspiracy theorists. They adhere to a pseudolegal belief system, claiming to be exempt from government authority and statutes. Sovereign citizens have engaged in intimidation and obstruction tactics, such as paper terrorism (filing frivolous legal documents), false liens, and confrontations with law enforcement.
• Intimidation and Harassment: Sovereign citizens have employed various techniques to intimidate and harass public officials and perceived enemies, including filing false liens against their property.
• Obstructing Law Enforcement: In the state of Washington, RCW 9A.76.020 defines obstructing a law enforcement officer as "willfully hindering, delaying, or obstructing any law enforcement officer in the discharge of their official powers or duties."

Protection:

• Department of Justice (DOJ): The DOJ investigates and prosecutes law enforcement misconduct, including constitutional violations and obstruction of justice. Federal laws enforced by the DOJ address misconduct by state, county, local, and federal law enforcement officers, protecting the rights of all individuals in the United States.
• Criminal and Civil Enforcement: The DOJ handles both criminal and civil cases of police misconduct. Criminal cases involve DOJ bringing charges against the accused, while civil cases are directed at governmental authorities or law enforcement agencies. Criminal violations are punishable by fines and/or imprisonment.
• Federal Civil Enforcement Laws:
• Police Misconduct Provision: This law prohibits state or local law enforcement officers from engaging in a pattern of conduct that deprives individuals of their constitutional rights.
• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the "OJP Program Statute": These laws prohibit discrimination on various grounds by state and local law enforcement agencies receiving financial assistance from the DOJ.
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act: These laws prohibit discrimination against individuals with disabilities in all state and local government programs and activities, including law enforcement services.

The Sovereign Citizen movement's potential for violence

The Sovereign Citizen movement is a loose group of anti-government activists, litigants, tax protesters, financial scammers, and conspiracy theorists. Sovereign citizens have their own pseudo-legal belief system based on misinterpretations of common law and claim not to be subject to any government statutes unless they consent to them. The movement can be traced back to far-right groups such as the Posse Comitatus and the constitutionalist wing of the militia movement. The majority of sovereign citizens are not violent, but the methods the movement advocates are illegal.

Sovereign citizens are known for their pseudo-legal arguments, as well as other unusual behaviours, such as inserting gratuitous punctuation marks in their names or flouting motor vehicle regulations. They are also known for committing acts of "paper terrorism", the practice of filing frivolous, pseudo-legal claims. These claims often involve large sums of money and are often aimed at government officials.

Sovereign citizens are a significant threat to law enforcement, particularly during traffic stops. Their reluctance to follow basic traffic and motor vehicle laws can lead to argumentative, combative, and non-cooperative behaviour. This can escalate into conflict-oriented tactics such as demanding that officers prove jurisdiction, refusing to answer questions, or insisting that they "do not consent" to the actions of law enforcement. Another common tactic is to only crack the window when asked to roll it down, making communication difficult or impossible.

Sovereign citizens have also been known to engage in violent acts. For example, in 2010, two sovereign citizens killed two West Memphis, Arkansas law enforcement officers. In another incident, a sovereign citizen shot and killed a California Highway Patrol officer after being pulled over for an obstructed license plate. In March 2018, a Moorish sovereign citizen shot at police officers during a traffic stop, wounding two of them.

Sovereign citizens have also been known to threaten law enforcement. For example, in 2015, two sovereign citizens plotted to kidnap a law enforcement officer and hold them hostage, intending to "put a bullet in his head". In another incident, a sovereign citizen threatened to "come back with a shotgun and snipe" police officers.

Sovereign citizens have also been known to engage in armed standoffs with law enforcement. For example, in 1996, the Montana Freemen, a group of Christian Patriot sovereign citizens, were involved in an 81-day armed standoff with the FBI. In 2020, a sovereign citizen group called "New Westralia" broke into a historic courthouse in Western Australia, intending to establish themselves as the "proper governing body of law".

Sovereign citizens have also been known to set up militias of self-appointed "sheriffs" and "common law courts" to handle matters within the movement. These "courts" are devoid of legal authority and are frequently used to formalise the "declarations of sovereignty" of movement members.

In recent years, the sovereign citizen movement has grown and spread internationally, particularly in jails and prisons, as well as by appealing to new audiences such as anti-vaxxers, QAnon adherents, and MAGA supporters.

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