The following article is from the July 93 issue of the McAlvany
Intelligence Advisor.

--Joe Gaut
========================================================================

 PLUNGING TOWARD AN AMERICAN POLICE STATE


 RUSTY HARDENBURGH, OHIO--In February '93, and FBI SWAT team of over a
 dozen armed agents swooped down on the Ohio home of Rusty Hardenburgh
 and confiscated over 100 computers used to power Rusty-N-Edie's BBS
 (Bulletin Board Service). Hardenburgh had allegedly posted commercial
 software among its gigabytes of shareware, freeware, GIF images, and
 other shareware. No arrests have been made or charges filed, nor are
 they likely to be. The informant, in this case, was the Software
 Publishers Association (SPA) who will undoubtedly get 10-25% of the
 proceeds of the 100 plus computers if they are liquidated in a
 government auction.

 The ACLU has argued in defense of Hardenburgh that the seizure of his
 computers (which effectively put him out of business) is
 unconstitutional. [ED. NOTE: They are, of course, correct!] The FBI
 argues that their seizure was "evidence gathering". But, as PC Magazine
 (5/11/93) said: "The computers are not evidence of anything...This
 seizure is harassment, pure and simple." As PC Magazine points out, if
 this BBS can have its computers confiscated simply because it is
 "suspected" (not tried, convicted, or found guilty of having pirated
 software), "any PC reader 'suspected' of having pirated software can
 have his PC confiscated." As in Stalin's Russia, it only takes a tip
 from an unfriendly neighbor. The SPA is that neighbor today. A
 disgruntled employee or jilted lover will be that neighbor tomorrow.

 [ED. NOTE: The key factor in this case is that with no criminal or civil
 charges and no arrest, the computers were seized because of a "tip" and
 under the "guise" of an investigation. There was no due process, no
 protection of private property rights, no presumption of innocence until
 guilt is proven--it is purely and simply Nazi/Communist-style plunder of
 assets by a socialist government now running amuck and out of control.]