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Can a porcupine save your guns?
American Handgunner, Jan-Feb, 2005 by Evan F. Nappen
Porcupines are not aggressive animals, but never tread on these quill-bearing creatures. The porcupine is the symbol of the innovative and exciting Free State Project, "FSP" (www.freestateproject.org). FSP is a ground-breaking political strategy in which 20,000 or more liberty-oriented activists promise to move to New Hampshire to be advocates for freedom. Free Staters affectionately call themselves "porcupines." In order to join the Free State Project, a prospective porcupine must agree to the Statement of Intent, which says: "I hereby state my solemn intent to move to the state of New Hampshire. Once there, I will exert the fullest practical effort toward the creation of a society in which the maximum role of civil government is the protection of life, liberty and property." The move to New Hampshire must be done within five years of the project reaching 20,000 participants. FSP strongly supports gun rights and already has over 6,000 sworn participants.
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FSP was founded by Dr. Jason Sorens, a Ph.D. in Political Science from Yale University and full-time Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at Yale University. Dr. Sorens has created one of the most novel and stimulating political strategies ever devised in our fight for firearm freedom and individual liberty. Free Starers are determined to work within the political system to reduce the size and scope of government. Porcupines vow to vigorously defend gun rights and fight for reductions in burdensome taxation and regulation, reforms in state and local law, an end to Federal mandates and restoration of Constitutional federalism. This innovative political strategy will demonstrate the benefits of liberty to the rest of the nation and to the world.
Welcomed
New Hampshire's Governor Craig Benson has officially welcomed the Free State Project to the Granite State, and porcupines already serve in New Hampshire State Government. New Hampshire's "Live Free or Die" motto accurately describes the political culture of this beautiful New England State. New Hampshire was chosen because it already has the lowest state and local tax burden in the continental U.S. (No State Income Tax, No State Sales Tax and No State Capital Gains Tax). New Hampshire has the second lowest level of dependence on Federal spending in the U.S. and the largest pure citizen legislature in the United States, where Representatives have not raised their $100 per year salary since 1889.
New Hampshire has been declared the "Most Livable State" by Morgan Quitno Press for its pro-business environment, low crime rate and high quality of life. This award has been around for 14 years and considers 44 factors including household income, crime rate, sunny days and even infant mortality rate. New Hampshire also received the 2004 "Healthiest State Award," based on 21 factors such as hospital access and disease prevention. New Hampshire has some of the lowest crime rate levels in the U.S. and is nationally regarded as one of the safest States in which to live.
New Hampshire gun laws have a healthy respect for freedom and individual rights, and they include a reasonable, "Shall Issue" carry license. It is actually prohibited by New Hampshire law to be fingerprinted when applying for this carry license. Nonresidents may also obtain a New Hampshire carry license. New Hampshire's State Constitution, Bill of Rights, Article 2a. reads: "All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state." New Hampshire does not prohibit ownership of Class III Weapons and the Granite State has never heard of "Registration," "Smart Guns," or bans on "Assault Firearms," ".50 Cal. Rifles'" or "Large Capacity Magazines."
For many folks, including me, simply moving to New Hampshire will bring tremendous new personal liberties. I've been actively involved in the Gun Rights Movement for over 25 years in a place the National Rifle Association of America officially called "Gun Owner's Hell," AKA New Jersey. As an Attorney whose practice focuses on Gun, Knife and Weapon Law, I have fought New Jersey's efforts to turn honest citizens into criminals with its out of control gun control laws. Some view my role as analogous to a guerilla fighter behind enemy lines. I must save my clients from going to prison and becoming convicted felons. Unless I win for them, they forfeit their freedom, their property, their gun rights and their civil rights, including their right to vote, to serve on jury and to hold public office.
Ineffective
For years, the same ineffective methods of fighting the anti-gunners were used by pro-gun forces. Gun owners were preached to with words and phrases like "grassroots," "contact your legislator," "get out the vote," "sign this petition," "take this poll," etc. Plus, do not forget the never-ending requests for money. Such methods, however well intentioned, have unfortunately failed in New Jersey. This is primarily due to the apathy of the majority of New Jersey gun owners when it comes to defending their gun rights.
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