Update on the Texas ATF overkill: Big Brother's got the drop on you

Via Sipsey Street Irregulars

Mr. Antonelli, you're a good man and keep it coming.
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Lou Antonelli - Tribune Managing Editor

The Daily Tribune
VERBATIM POST
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Unless you've been living under a rock - like the guys in the Geico commercial - you've probably heard about how two local businessmen were arrested Aug. 5 on charges related to arson by the ATF as well as the Texas Rangers and the local police department.

Regardless of the charges and the individuals involved, what immediately rubbed people the wrong way was how one businessman was arrested in broad daylight at his place of business while it was full of customers.

One man had been notified that there were warrants for his arrest, and he was allowed to turn himself in. But the other was led away in handcuffs after patrons were told to hit the linoleum.

In his column the following Tuesday, Bob Palmer wrote: "ATF agents visited Mount Pleasant last week. From the mess they made of arresting two local businessmen, you would have thought a circus parade had passed through town. Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms officers indulged themselves with an unnecessary display of power and force. If they want to wear combat boots, wave automatic weapons around and scare local citizens, I suggest they volunteer for Kandahar, Afghanistan. This sort of histrionics was not warranted in a routine serving of a warrant."

Before that day was out, a letter rebutting Bob's opinion - four times as long as his original comments - was at the newspaper, written by Clay Alexander, the ATF Resident Agent in Charge

Aside from the obvious chilling effect intended by Agent Alexander in responding so quickly and thoroughly to Bob's comments, my first reaction was that it must be nice to have a government job so you can sit around and monitor free speech by citizens. "Big Brother is Watching You"

Agent Alexander, this is Texas. The people here are feisty and independent. Whether guns were drawn or not, whether you yelled or not, whether you told people to hit the deck or not, people resent being pushed around and being told what to do.

Whose brilliant idea was it to arrest this guy in broad daylight in a fast-food restaurant? Why the large turnout? Were you afraid he'd lob a box of seasoned curly fries at you?

You managed to do something that I would have thought otherwise impossible - you made the miscreant look sympathetic.

I hold the Mount Pleasant PD blameless in this incident. I know they have too much common sense to have invented such a cockamamie plot. This kind of out-of-touch thinking only comes from feds.

Don't bother to send me a rebuttal, Agent Alexander. I have to work hard for a living, I've never held a government job, and I have little patience with people like you who do. Get a real job and off the public payroll and find out what it's like to live under a domineering government during a Recession. You probably won't like it, either.

In conclusion, here's a scenario to ponder, folks: Rick Perry wins the election for President. Obama gets maybe 20 percent of the vote in Titus County.

Our national establishment, having had enough under George Bush, abrogates the election, declares martial law, and keeps Obama in office indefinitely.

Federal law enforcement authorities already in place, such as Agent Alexander, are charged with "pacifying" recalcitrant districts, such as Titus County.

Was that arrest on Aug. 5 a "test-run' for when that day comes and federal agents come into our homes and businesses unimpeded to let us know who's really boss?