devlin
Laus Deo
I recall a post when I joined here telling me to stir things up... so I shall....
I was listening to the radio when I heard a man talk about how he went hunting, followed all the rules and laws, obtained all the proper licenses and permits. The federal government was not happy with this person and charged him with a felony that was so obscure that not only would the average citizen know of it but even the judge trying the case never heard of it.
It was a case of the government going after an individual because they did not like him publicly discussing his political views.
The government to be vindictive used the law as a weapon. If he had not plead to a lesser charge he would have had the felony charge not only would it remove his right to vote, hunt, or own a firearm it would keep him from being able to become a Mason.
This bothers me a lot. It is why I wonder why many GL's are dead set on a no felony policy. I understand this is an extreme minority case but in the past governments have been known to go after others with trumped up charges including Masonry itself. From what I've read Masonry has had more than a few run ins with various governments over the centuries some leading to the deaths of thousands of good Freemasons.
I was listening to the radio when I heard a man talk about how he went hunting, followed all the rules and laws, obtained all the proper licenses and permits. The federal government was not happy with this person and charged him with a felony that was so obscure that not only would the average citizen know of it but even the judge trying the case never heard of it.
It was a case of the government going after an individual because they did not like him publicly discussing his political views.
The government to be vindictive used the law as a weapon. If he had not plead to a lesser charge he would have had the felony charge not only would it remove his right to vote, hunt, or own a firearm it would keep him from being able to become a Mason.
This bothers me a lot. It is why I wonder why many GL's are dead set on a no felony policy. I understand this is an extreme minority case but in the past governments have been known to go after others with trumped up charges including Masonry itself. From what I've read Masonry has had more than a few run ins with various governments over the centuries some leading to the deaths of thousands of good Freemasons.