Time: Fri Nov 21 04:27:18 1997
by primenet.com (8.8.5/8.8.5) with ESMTP id EAA19207;
Fri, 21 Nov 1997 04:26:33 -0700 (MST)
by smtp04.primenet.com (8.8.7/8.8.7) id EAA19438;
Fri, 21 Nov 1997 04:25:44 -0700 (MST)
via SMTP by smtp04.primenet.com, id smtpd019431; Fri Nov 21 04:25:38 1997
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 04:25:52 -0800
To: (Recipient list suppressed)
From: Paul Andrew Mitchell [address in tool bar]
Subject: SLS: BATF Tyranny In Arizona (fwd)
<snip>
>
>BATF Tyranny In Arizona
>
>New River is a small, non-incorporated community 30 miles north
>of Phoenix, Arizona. On September 10, 1997, the BATF raided the
>property of Charles Byers, a former munitions manufacturer.
>
>On the property they found a shed containing chemicals that the
>BATF claims are highly unstable and shock sensitive. A list of the
>chemicals obtained via court records shows that most of the
>chemicals are used in the production of fireworks. The shed has
>been described by some as "a glorified high school chem lab."
>
>Our community, as well as the Constitution and the Bill of Rights,
>are under an all out assault. The BATF has invaded New River and
>plans to create an environmental hazard against our wishes and
>without legal permits.
>
>On September 23, 1997, the BATF blew up two bunkers full of
>explosives. The community was not notified. The resulting shock
>wave rattled houses as far as four miles away. Kids at New River
>Elementary school were bounced out of their chairs and scared
>half out of their wits.
>
>The materials in the shed did not ignite.
>
>The BATF brought in heavy equipment to build a berm around
>the shed, then constructed a concrete wall on top of it.
>The BATF claims that the heavy equipment did not set off the
>chemicals in the shed because they used equipment with "rubber tires."
>
>The BATF decided the only way to solve the problems of the
>unstable chemicals is to burn the shed using Thermite as
>an accelerant to incinerate the shed and its contents at
>temperatures between 3000 and 5000 degrees.
>
>This would completely destroy any organic compounds that
>might exist. The inorganic compounds would not be destroyed,
>but would instead, vaporize and form possible new and deadly
>airborne combinations.
>
>The EPA approved the BATF's plan, a federal judge issued
>an evacuation order, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio,
>went along. The burn was set for October 18, 1997. The
>sheriff, a thirty year veteran of the DEA, sent his posse
>to notify residents that they were to evacuate their property,
>including all domestic animals and birds. Since this is
>a rural area, most people have more than just a cat or dog.
>Folks here raise horses, pigs, chickens and exotic birds and
>animals. Many raise more than one species and have multiple head.
>
>At a community meeting with the BATF, EPA and Sheriff
>Arpaio, residents asked questions of the assembled panel.
>The panel could not or would not respond to residents inquires:
>"What exactly was in the shed and in what quantities?
>What effect would burning the chemicals have on our soil,
>air and ground water, both short and long term? Where
>were residents to take their animals? Who was going to
>pay for any damages sustained to properties (Brush fire
>hazard is very high this time of the year)?" It was
>evident that the effects of the burn had not been determined.
>The EPA representative said numerous times, "We will
>monitor before and after."
>
>Sheriff Arpaio threatened to forcibly remove anyone who
>refused to leave their property. He could not understand
>why residents did not want - or appreciate - his "protection".
>He stated that it is within his power and responsibilities
>to protect us from ourselves.
>
>So many people refused to evacuate that the October 18
>burn was postponed until November 1, 1997. Three hundred
>fifty homes were to be evacuated, for 12 to 24 hours, within
>a three mile radius of Byers' property. The evacuation
>maps provided to us, prepared by the BATF, were completely
>wrong. They have been redrawn - with the radius now only
>extending 1.5 miles so as not to inconvenience the people
>in the Manufacturer's Outlet Mall nearly three miles from
>the proposed burn site. When asked, "If these chemicals are
>so sensitive, why did the BATF set off explosions near the
>shed?", they said it was a mistake.
>
>We have not accepted that the Federal, or even local,
>government can force us to leave our homes, proceed with
>reckless behavior with detrimental effects on our land, lives
>and livelihoods, and not be accountable. The BATF and Sheriff
>Arpaio have tried to make us feel like we are over-reacting and
>just need to get with the program. Sheriff Arpaio did not stop
>his threats of forcible removal until he was contacted by
>the community's attorney.
>
>On October 25,1997, New River residents held a peaceful
>demonstration at the site of the proposed burn. We walked
>two miles up and down steep hills and stood before the BATF
>with American flags. We wanted to remind the BATF that
>this is still America and that we have the right to live
>peacefully on our property. Our government cannot, on a
>whim, destroy what we have worked so hard to build.
>
>Certain sections of our government are testing America's
>resolve. They are looking to see where we draw the line. In
>New River, we have drawn that line in the dirt we hold sacred.
>We will not allow the burn and will not leave our homes.
>
>A talk show host in Phoenix called what's happening here
>"The New River Rebellion." We do not want New River added to
>the list of American tragedies that includes Ruby Ridge and Waco.
>Call your own congressman or senator. Let them know that you
>know about New River. If we let it happen here, where will it stop?
>
>Contact the following people/locations for comments or
>more information: Karmann Powell - byteme@msn.com
>The Desert Advocate, Karen Seemeyer, Editor - thedesadv@aol.com
>The Arizona Republic - being covered by Timothy Tait timothy.tait@pni.com
>
<snip>
===========================================================================
Paul Andrew Mitchell, Sui Juris : Counselor at Law, federal witness 01
B.A.: Political Science, UCLA; M.S.: Public Administration, U.C.Irvine 02
tel: (520) 320-1514: machine; fax: (520) 320-1256: 24-hour/day-night 03
email: [address in tool bar] : using Eudora Pro 3.0.3 on 586 CPU 04
website: http://supremelaw.com : visit the Supreme Law Library now 05
ship to: c/o 2509 N. Campbell, #1776 : this is free speech, at its best 06
Tucson, Arizona state : state zone, not the federal zone 07
Postal Zone 85719/tdc : USPS delays first class w/o this 08
_____________________________________: Law is authority in written words 09
As agents of the Most High, we came here to establish justice. We shall 10
not leave, until our mission is accomplished and justice reigns eternal. 11
======================================================================== 12
[This text formatted on-screen in Courier 11, non-proportional spacing.] 13
Return to Table of Contents for
Supreme Law School: E-mail