Hatewatch Tweets
Hatewatch is managed by the staff of the Intelligence Report, an investigative magazine published by the Alabama-based civil rights group Southern Poverty Law Center.
‘The Sociopath Next Door’: ‘Sovereign’ on a Rampage
Three useful tips for dealing with an antigovernment “sovereign citizen”:
1. Don’t ask him for his driver’s license.
2. Don’t ask him, “Did you file your federal tax return yet?”
3. Don’t run out of crawfish.
A man claiming to be a sovereign citizen – that is, someone who, though living in this country, claims to be exempt from state and federal laws – was charged this week with shooting up a seafood store near Pensacola, Fla., with an assault-style rifle Sunday evening after being told it was sold out of crawfish.
Investigators believe Larry Wayne Kelly called the L&T Seafood Market near closing time at 5 p.m. Sunday to order crawfish and became “incredibly irate” when told there wasn’t any left, according to the Pensacola News Journal. The business’ caller ID logged 11 calls from Kelly in a 20-minute span. Police believe Kelly drove to the store about two hours later and fired at least 11 AK-47 rounds into the unoccupied store, which had closed for the day. No one was injured.
Witnesses on Sunday reported seeing a man in a pickup truck driving through the streets of Ensley, Fla., firing a rifle from the window. At one point, the man got out of the truck and fired a number of rounds into the fish market. Shortly afterward, police spotted Kelly in a Ford Ranger that matched the witnesses’ descriptions, parked about 10 blocks away. Kelly first tried to run over two officers who approached on foot, then, in an ensuing chase, sideswiped one patrol car and rammed another before being captured, police said.
The owner of the L&T Seafood Market, Tommy Nguyen, had a hard time understanding what sparked the rampage. He told the News Journal he had sold out of crawfish by Sunday due to high holiday-weekend demand. “If you don’t have crawfish, you can get crab or something else,” Nguyen said. “Why is crawfish so important?”
In Kelly’s truck, police found four loaded guns, one of them an AK-47, and a copy of the book The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout, according to the website TPMMuckraker. The book asserts that one in 25 Americans is a clinical sociopath capable of violating any ethical code without feeling shame, guilt or remorse. The website reported further that Kelly described himself to officers as a “sovereign citizen” who doesn’t have to follow the law.
Kelly apparently manifests several other telltale traits of antigovernment sovereign citizens. According to the News Journal, he has filed dozens of strangely worded lawsuits, a tactic common among sovereign practitioners. Also, Kelly’s truck bore a homemade license plate, another sign.
Those claiming to be sovereign citizens are not part of a formal organization, but rather have bought into a set of beliefs that include thinking they can remove themselves from the jurisdiction of the federal and state governments through the filing of specifically worded, but legally bogus, court filings. They believe they are not obligated to pay taxes or to use any form of government documentation or identification.
Sovereign citizens have been known to occasionally resist police authority with violence. The most notorious case was that of Jerry and Joe Kane, a father-and-son team who killed two West Memphis, Ark., police officers last summer during a routine traffic stop, before being shot and killed themselves by police an hour later. Still, a case such as Kelly’s is unusual in that his alleged rampage wasn’t triggered by government representatives attempting to assert authority over him.
Kelly was described as an “upstanding citizen, family man and an incredible single father” by one of several commenters on NorthEscambia.com who claimed to know him personally.
He is being held on $575,000 bond on charges of fleeing police, aggravated assault, weapons violations, firing at a building, firing from a vehicle and criminal mischief.
on June 3rd, 2011 at 3:51 pm
If this does not illustrate a need for tighter restrictions on gun ownership, I don’t know what does. Because it seems obvious that far too many of the most dangerous weapons are in the hands of the nutcases who will go off half-cocked and pull a stupid, moronic, insane stunt like this. And they have the balls to claim that the Second Amendment protects their “right to bear arms.” Well, no individual needs to have an AK-47. It is not useful for hunting, and if you want a gun for protection from intruders, a handgun is much more practical.
These people are certifiably insane and it is time to take their guns away from them.
on June 3rd, 2011 at 3:53 pm
What is up with these sovereign’s? I’ve been hearing about them a lot over the past year or so. Who/what is fueling this ‘movement’?
I saw a video a few months back of a man being pulled over by police and pulling the ‘sovereign’ routine and in the video it worked. Is there really no legal basis for this? If not, great!; if so, how do we close that loophole?
on June 3rd, 2011 at 4:05 pm
Apparently not being able to satisfy someone’s demand for crawfish is depriving them of their god-given rights and oppressing them.
on June 3rd, 2011 at 5:44 pm
The fact that the owner of the crawfish establishment was a Vietnamese person probably is also part of the story for a loon like this.
on June 3rd, 2011 at 7:18 pm
SamInTX: There is NO legal basis for any of the “sovereign citizen” beliefs.
I am not familiar with the video you mentioned. I can only surmise that the officers involved were poorly trained and/or unaware of “sovereign citizen” tactics.
on June 3rd, 2011 at 8:23 pm
What’s hard to believe is the bail amount! You mean to say that the bail is less than a million, and the police didn’t shoot and kill him because he had a gun, uh guns, and they feared for their lives and the lives of others?
Seriously, this is interesting, because, the police shoot and kill black and brown under the pretext of they thought the suspect was reaching for a gun, had a gun, or they feared for their lives. Did the officers even use their weapons in this case? All I’m left to say is, wow!
on June 3rd, 2011 at 9:21 pm
Since these anti-U.S. government loons have a serious problem living under U.S. Federal laws. They really should be rounded up like sheep, along with the “illegal aliens” and shipped out of the U.S. I wonder why they cannot understand that once you’re living within U.S. jurisdictional territory. You are required to abide by U.S. laws. If they don’t like it, they oughta relocate to another country.
on June 4th, 2011 at 7:37 am
Is this the sort of thing Ayn Rand would approve of? These people practically worship her.
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on June 4th, 2011 at 9:30 am
Maybe he just really, really likes crawfish.
on June 4th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
Whatcha gonna do when the pond goes dry?
Sit on the bank and watch the crawdads die…
on June 5th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Shadow Wolf,
I agree. I keep mentioning that they have the opportunity of a lifetime to relocate to Easter Island. I think they need a fresh start, away from people (meaning us) that don’t share their views, beliefs, lifestyle. It’s an opporunity for them to do whatever they want, when they want – I’m just shocked they won’t go – so I’m thinking they are just trying to cause problems, or they believe this makes them powerful, and for sure they can’t make it on their own (much like they brag about their ancestors ‘came to this country…’)
on June 6th, 2011 at 9:55 am
The main argument for gun control is flawed, making guns illegal wont stop people from aquring them and espicaly criminals, it´s the same faulty logic that is behind the war on drugs, making drugs illegal sure as hell does not limit the supply of them
The reasons for high crime rate in Usa is due to poverty,social issues and discrimination not due to firearms,
on June 6th, 2011 at 11:37 am
Availability of firearms is certainly a reason for crime, as much as those other things.
on June 6th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
I understand that the cops that targeted the Kanes for assassination were from out of state and out of county, and had been stalking the Kanes for some time, before the traffic stop, which was not in their jurisdiction, and that there has been lots of government and law enforcement disinformation regarding the police premeditated assassination of these father and son duo who travelled around the country trying to help people whose homes were being foreclosed on by the banks. The link to that information is here: http://www.justiceforjerryandjoekane.com
I also understand that 99 percent of every foreclosure in this country is illegal in that the banks fail to possess the promissory note, which is required by law – UCC 3-305(c), to be produced prior to a creditor moving to take property. I support the Southern Poverty Law Center and it’s historic purpose of preventing southern blacks from being denied the vote.
I do not support the Southern Poverty Law Center making wild claims about people who have been gunned down under color of law, after they have been stalked for days by police. Further, the outlandish falselight descriptions regarding 11th amendment citizens (sovereign Americans, or American nationals) versus 14th amendment citizens (US citizens), are just pure hogwash. The US Supreme Court and other courts have ruled that US citizens have less rights and that most of the bill of rights do not apply to US citizens, whereas all the Bill of Rights do apply to 11th amendment citizens (American Nationals). The government failed to disclose to the general population that you are born an 11th amendment citizen, but when your parents sign the birth certificate for you and it is filed, the US Commerce Dept changes your citizenship to that of a US Citizen so that they can create a trust in your all capitalized name, insure that trust, and trade bonds against that trust on the International Mutual Fund Market to fund the national debt. When the 25 Million people in the US expatriated already back to being 11th amendment citizens – they reclaim the trust that exists in their all capitalized name, that is what is really referred to on your drivers license, and your social security card. An all capitalized name can only refer to a vessel, a corporation or a deceased person. In the case of your identification cards and bank cards, it is all capitalized because it referred to the trust that the commerce dept. created in your all capitalized name without your knowledge or permission. If anyone of us did that it would be called fraud – failure to disclose a material fact. The municipal corporations that claim jurisdiction over 14th amendment US Citizens, in other words, those who have a trust in their all capitalized name, have signed their government documents without a qualified signature. A qualified signature is “as beneficiary,” written before or after your name. Failure to do that results in the presumption that you are acting as trustee not beneficiary of your trust, and under the law, the trustee can be held culpable whereas the beneficiary cannot. The corporation courts, called courts of fiction, which are all the incorporated courts of this country, only have jurisdiction over the trusts and their trustees. That is the explanation of where the immunity of an 11th amendment citizen comes from.
Approximately 85 percent of the people in this country have been kept ignorant to this, and to the existence of the trust that exists in their all capitalized name, so that the govt can continue to use the money generated from each of those trusts under the doctrine of silence is agreement, though you didn’t agree if you were never told about it in the first place.
This is the kind of thing that the Southern Poverty Law Center should be helping people to understand so that they can be more free, which is more inline with your organizations stated goals.
At least there is still a first amendment.
The guy in your article that misused his firearms probably had a nervous breakdown, but that is not a reason to berate 25 million Americans who are 11th amendment citizens, just because you ignorantly believe that being a 14th amendment citizen is better (which in fact is not true according to the courts).
Your assumptions that all 11th amendment citizens are bad, crazy or disloyal to our country (which is not the same as the municipal for profit corporation that claims to be the USA) is like saying that one african-american is a mugger, drug addict, and pedophile, so all african-americans must be bad. The small minded muck-raking was good in the past for uneducated folk, but it doesn’t cut it anymore.
on June 6th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
Jack,
Wow. That was a whole lot of verbiage to say absolutely nothing but hogwash. Please cite precedent regarding the Supreme Court. Otherwise, kindly take your conspiracies elsewhere.
Regards,
Aron
on June 6th, 2011 at 4:14 pm
Yeah, whatever Jack Conrad said, word! or Amen! or sell it Sister! 11th Amendment rules and controls all other amendments! (Does the 11th amendment even exist?)
on June 6th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
He doesn’t have to cite precedent because the great thing about conspiracy theories is that you just claim that the experts are covering everything up.
on June 6th, 2011 at 9:38 pm
Lex, crime is at historically low levels nationwide now.
on June 7th, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Oh well,
the main thing is this guy will try to claim insanity. In the meantime, I will say that the guys behind bars will have a ball with him, gee, they just love suckers and pinchers.
on June 9th, 2011 at 12:07 pm
WHO IN HELL would describe this man as an upstanding citizen, family man, and an incredible single father? Answer: ANOTHER sociopath with the same agenda.
on June 9th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
Scott
You wrote “If this does not illustrate a need for tighter restrictions on gun ownership, I don’t know what does.” AK-47s and other fully automatic weapons are already illegal, and this guy was not supposed to have one. Yet he did. This man did not have a concealed carry permit which meant he was not supposed to be traveling with the weapons anyway unless he was on his way to a range or hunting. There were several laws already on the books that this man violated. Do you honestly think that stricter gun laws would have prevented this shooting? I don’t think so. But if someone there were to pull a gun on him I sure it would have ended the situation without any innocent deaths.
This is about hate crime and political ideology. Social issues like poverty, education, and tolerance. It has nothing to do with guns and gun control.
on June 9th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
Shadow wolf
The sovereign citizens are typically naturally born citizens of the United States and such cannot be “herded up like sheep and deported” When people are deported they are sent to their nation of origin. If your nation of origin is the United States where do you get deported to?
Now as far as if people do not like the Constitution and our way of life you should relocate to another country one that is more in line with their beliefs. This includes gun control. Iran has a great gun control policy. If you are caught with guns you are hung.
on June 10th, 2011 at 1:55 am
Scott, I have to agree that I don’t want an AK 47 either. However maniacs and criminals don’t pay attention to gun laws, and any number of less sinister guns would have done the same thing in the wrong hands. He’s probably too crazy to get a Florida CCW permit, and driving around with home made tags he should have been locked up anyway. I know the cops can’t be everywhere but existing laws should be enforced before making up any new ones.
on June 10th, 2011 at 8:36 pm
John Fisher,
technically, these types can be rendered stateless. As far as being deported, I would think it would be a matter of what country would accept them. Again, that’s why I keep pointing out Easter Islands, there they would probably not need to worry about being accepted, or any of the type of government constraints/restrictions or whatever else they feel is getting in their way of life.
on June 11th, 2011 at 10:53 am
skinny, we could probably buy Easter Island cheap. And they could keep working on those statues.
on June 22nd, 2011 at 1:54 pm
I think it’s so very pathetic everyone is so quick to cast stone at others people mistakes. When you about something or someone you don’t know you just look plain out stupid. Take it from someone who has known this man personally for 5 years…he isn’t all the BS your trying to make him. That man has help me and been there for me so many times, when he didn’t even have to. Come on man wakes up at 4 in the morning to help his sons ex-girlfriend change a tire because she broke curfew and didnt want to get in trouble. How many of yall would do that? I’m guessing not many. So you may see him as a bad crazy person but to me his a good hearted man that was pushed over the edge by ignorant pricks like yall…the saddest part is if this was your family you wouldnt be saying stuff like that. So yall should take a page out of Mr. Larry’s book “only God can judge you”. So instead of looking like a dumbass just kept your mouth closed.
on June 25th, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Yes, b/c as we all know, changing his son’s ex-GF’s tire completely negates shooting up a fish market…give me a break! And if none of this is true, why hasn’t Kelly sued for libel/slander/defamation? The only one “looking like a dumbass” here is you, I’m afraid.
on July 2nd, 2011 at 5:28 pm
Ashley ~ Not all bad people are “evil” in that they have no redeeming qualities. Maybe this guy has a redeeming quality or two. Fact is, he shot up a store, was in possession of illegal weapons and damaged a police car when resisting arrest. That makes him a criminal. Maybe he’s a nice guy to you. To the rest of the world, he’s a violent criminal who got pissed off because a store was out of crawfish. I’m pretty sure that every criminal, even the most abhorent ones, have someone, somewhere, who loved them.
Jack Conrad ~ Seriously? Are trolling for legal work here trying to get someone to sue their bank over a foreclosure? ‘Cause that’s sure what it sounds like. Those cases don’t hold water, much less money.