Smug Activist update

Wow, my Smug Activist post generated more interest than my blog itself!

If you want to know more about the Smug Activist, here's a Quatloos thread on him. It features everything you could possibly want to know, even though the video is almost self explanatory.

• Name: Robert Peterson
• Age: 21
• Place: A courthouse in Kootenai, Idaho
• Reason: To contest a ticket - riding with no lights on a bicycle at night.
• End result: 3 charges of battery, 1 contempt of court

Had Robert put away his camera as required, he wouldn't be in jail.

Had Robert respected the Bailiffs (P. Barnes, et al.), he wouldn't be in jail.
Had Robert studied the rules of the courtroom, maybe even hiring a court reporter, he wouldn't be in jail.
Had Robert used a hidden camera instead, he probably wouldn't be in jail. (don't do this!)

And, of course, had Robert paid his "damnit, they got me dead-to-rights" ticket, he wouldn't be in jail either, and there wouldn't be an embarrassing viral video on the internet. However, now that I think of it, Robert was probably bound to serve jail time over contempt charges if he tried to use his crazy theories, it's almost a moot point. With all of this said, I can't wait until Tosh.0 interviews him.

The speculation so far is that his mother is also a sovereign citizen, and he learned it from his mother/father from an early age. I don't buy it (yet).

I still feel strongly about the tasering. However, the reality is that everyone who had the ball dropped it, and I really can't fault bailiff P. Barnes. Here's how I think things should have happened at every step:

1. Security should have recognized the trouble before granting admission, present a clear ultimatum, either lose the camera entirely (by giving it up to security, or putting it back in the car) and come in, or stay out. No in-betweens. 
2. Get tossed out at first instance of video camera use.
3. Get tossed out at escalation of encounter. 
4. Get tossed out at any point after he left the court room.
5. Get tossed out after altercation with Bailiffs.

(steps 2-5 must lead to seizure of camera, or him being forced to put camera back in his car or wherever. No arrest to be made - Robert isn't dangerously belligerent. Just plain old belligerent. Had there been another push to get through, then arrest Robert with assault.) 

To me, all possible remedies must be explored before taser work, and that means physical work like restraining and removal. Tasers are a "less lethal" remedy, and have the potential to kill or seriously harm the assailant. Just think: if he's sovereign, he probably doesn't have insurance either. Why risk dumping this man on the nearest overstuffed hospital? Why risk opening the town up to the craziest goddamn lawsuit ever conceived?

This is where I really diverge with the Quatloos people. I refuse to have an ultra conservative viewpoint regarding law and order (or anything else, really). There's so much we don't know about Robert Peterson. Just how much of a role does his family play into this incident? Is he schizophrenic or bipolar? A whole lot of Youtube and Ron Paul? The point being, he isn't Old Yeller waiting to be put down. He can be rehabilitated into a productive member of society. We shouldn't be so blood thirsty.

This isn't the only time I have felt this way about Quatloos. It took me full year to get worn down by it.

Hell, I wish I started with a more caring approach with my blog. I believe the internet calls this troller's remorse.

Unless something big happens regarding LB Bork or PACinLaw, I will not go there.

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There's a new infection of PACinLaw posts on Craigslist. I still collect them, and there will be a post about it soon.