SOVEREIGN CITIZEN MOVEMENT

Sovereign Citizen Movement

Sovereign Citizen Movement

Introduction

The term sovereign citizens is used to describe the group of people residing in United States of America, who declare them sovereign citizens and deny the acceptance of United States federal, states, municipal or local laws. They are called sovereign citizens because many of their legal theories are based on an assertion of personal sovereignty. Some sovereign citizens believe that before the American Revolution, the King of England owned all of the land in his colonies. After the revolution, he conveyed the land of the American colonies to the inhabitants. This made the citizens sovereigns. In this connection, this study will examine how members of sovereign citizen movement use technology to increase their membership and spread extremism. The research paper will be divided into two parts; in the first part the case of extremist member of sovereign citizens' movement will be discussed. In the second part, how technology is being used by these extremist to promote their cause. The division of the subject will help in understanding two variables, one is the level of extremism in members of this movement and second how technology is being misused by them.

Relatively few people truly believe that they are sovereigns. A conservative estimate is that today there are about 100,000 true believers. However, the influence of the sovereign-citizen movement extends far beyond these individuals. Proponents travel the country, offering seminars on how to avoid paying taxes, licensing fees, foreclosure and the other similar illegitimate acts in accordance with the law. Income tax avoidance is one of the prominent goals of sovereign citizens. Materials espousing their cause, including forms and filing instructions, are widely available.

The Case of Dr Elizabeth Rohr

People are sometimes drawn into the sovereign-citizen movement because it seems to offer a solution to their problems. Some famous people of sovereign-citizen movement include actor Wesley Snipes who refused to pay income taxes for many years based on assertions of sovereignty and among other people some are well educated. For example, Elizabeth Rohr was a physician who filed numerous lawsuits and liens against the individuals, government entities and officials who she blamed for her many disappointments. Dr. Rohr illustrates why some people join the sovereign-citizen movement. When her journey began, she operated a medical practice in Roanoake, Texas, and was known for her compassionate bedside manner. She and her husband, an orthopedic surgeon, lived with their five young children on a 42-acre ranch. They also owned a separate 560-acre ranch (Bassi, 2010).

Local residents complained about the condition of the horses that Dr. Rohr kept at the ranches. Her legal troubles began in earnest when authorities removed 31 horses from her care and charged her with multiple counts of animal cruelty. She ultimately pled guilty to several charges and received probation, and she and her husband divorced within the next year. Following the divorce, they engaged in a bitter dispute over whether their children should remain with Dr. Rohr.

In the midst of the custody battle, authorities discovered dead and malnourished ...