The dying embers of liberty

I got an interesting and disturbing email from Campaign for Liberty this morning.  I started to summarize it, but I’ll just quote the message:

Dear Friend of Liberty,

Campaign for Liberty’s very own Steve Bierfeldt has become an unexpected Internet sensation — and the latest target of over-reaching federal government agents.

You see, Steve was detained by Airport Police and TSA officials shortly after the Campaign for Liberty regional conference in St. Louis.

The officials rudely berated and harassed Steve for 30 minutes in a secluded room at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport.   Fortunately, Steve was able to record nearly all of the interrogation with his cell phone.

Steve’s alleged “crime”?  Carrying $4,700 in checks and cash from Campaign for Liberty, along with various other materials from our conference.

The local and Federal agents harassed Steve.  They were belligerent, cursing and using insulting language.  They threatened to turn Steve over to the DEA and the FBI, all the while refusing to inform him of his legal rights or explain how cash and checks threatened airplane or airport security.

Throughout the interrogation, Steve remained polite but resolute and declined to answer the invasive questions without an adequate explanation from these federal and local agents as to why they needed to be answered.  Without telling Steve what law he was accused of breaking, they continued their harassment.

Although they grew increasingly frustrated that he remained committed to exercising his rights, intervention from another officer eventually led the police to reluctantly release Steve.

Last Wednesday, Steve appeared on Judge Napolitano’s Freedom Watch to discuss the flagrant violation of his rights and to promote the importance of each of us defending our civil liberties.

Now, Steve’s appearance on Freedom Watch – which features several minutes of the audio tape – has gone viral.

Let’s remember, this is on the heels of the report from the Missouri Information Analysis Center (MIAC) warning that militia members are more likely to associate with third parties.

So here’s a guy with $4,700 on him, and worse, his bag is full of Ron Paul material.  You know, that weird guy who babbles incessantly about liberty?

People who actually understand the U.S. Constitution are being marginalized as radicals.  What a dark age.

Without further adieu, here is the YouTube video that contains some of the audio recording of the interrogation.  Ladies and gentlemen, your federal government:

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