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twitterScientology foe’s arrest raises issue of rights
Authorities feared his opposition crossed line, threatened violence
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009 | 2 a.m.
THE SUSPECT: Weapons and ammunition were found in Colby Schoolcraft's home, but no criminal complaint has been filed against him.
Beyond the Sun
- Anonymous: Why We Protest
- Cameranonymous's YouTube Channel
Workers renovate the Church of Scientology's future home in August near Emerson and Eastern avenues. The church in October 2005 purchased the 3.71-acre parcel for $2.9 million from a synagogue that has since moved to Henderson, according to county records.
Church location
About Scientology
• Founded in the early 1950s by science fiction author L. Ron Hubbard. His 1950 book, “Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health,” provided many of the principles of what would later become Scientology. Those include opposition to modern psychiatry.
• Regained tax exempt status in 1993, after a decades-long battle with the IRS, which had claimed it was a commercial enterprise designed for Hubbard’s gain. Church claimed tax exemption victory equaled “full religious recognition.”
• Says it now has millions of adherents and more than 6,000 churches, missions and groups worldwide.
• Teaches that people are spiritual beings who have lived through past lives and forgotten their real nature.
• Puts members through a type of counseling called “auditing,” during which painful or traumatic events are recalled so members can free themselves of the memories’ effects.
The arrest of a member of an anti-Scientology group on terrorism-related charges last month thrust Las Vegas into the forefront of a worldwide dispute between the group and the celebrity-laden church.
Metro SWAT officers and counterterrorism detectives stormed the southwest Las Vegas Valley home of Colby Schoolcraft in the middle of the night Oct. 15 and seized a cache of weapons and ammunition, including an AK-47 assault rifle.
Authorities say they believed acts of violence were about to be committed against the local Scientology church, which is creating a new 36,845-square-foot center on Eastern Avenue to cater to celebrities.
Schoolcraft, 23, is a member of “Anonymous,” an Internet-fueled group that has thousands of members who organize protests against Scientology around the world. Members wear masks when they demonstrate, to minimize church retaliation, they say. They denounce the church’s use of what they allege are cultlike techniques of control over millions of followers.
Anonymous also is dedicated to getting the Internal Revenue Service to revoke Scientology’s tax-exempt status as a religious organization, something the Los Angeles-based church regained in 1993 after a bitter 26-year fight with the IRS.
Anonymous does not advocate violence. But in recent months some members elsewhere have been charged with cyber crimes against the church. There also have been media reports of members harassing Scientologist actor Tom Cruise.
Scientology’s longtime lead counsel, Kendrick Moxon, had tipped off police to threats of potential violence against the local church that Schoolcraft allegedly made on an Anonymous Web site. A photo of Scientology leader David Miscavige with several bullet holes also appeared on the site, police said.
A criminal complaint has not been filed against Schoolcraft, a camera buff who has posted videos on YouTube of public demonstrations against the church’s East Sahara Avenue facility.
District Attorney David Roger and lawyers for the church declined to comment on the case.
Schoolcraft’s lawyer, Chris Rasmussen, said his client, was not planning any violence against the Scientologists, and was merely exercising his right to speak out against them.
In cases like this, especially since 9/11, authorities often have a tough time drawing the line between a criminal act and the constitutional rights to free speech and to bear arms.
“This group has been known to make suspicious-sounding communications that could be interpreted as threats,” said Las Vegas FBI Supervisor Rod Swanson, who leads the Southern Nevada Joint Terrorism Task Force, which has been participating in the investigation.
Swanson said authorities were concerned that Schoolcraft might be acting as a “lone wolf,” beyond the normal boundaries set by his group.
“In an abundance of caution, we were working with Metro to ensure that we did not have a threat to members ... or the church itself,” he said.
According to a police affidavit used to obtain the search warrant for Schoolcraft’s home, on Banbury Heights Way, Schoolcraft used the screen name “cameranonymous” to post a message on an Anonymous Web site against the church that was “dedicated to cause fear and panic commonly associated with terrorist acts.”
The message encouraged members on Oct. 17 to “leave at 6 a.m., go out and blow (expletive) up with guns and explosives, then raid the (expletive) out of Scientology at 11 a.m.,” the affidavit alleged.
A private investigator hired by the Scientology church to monitor the site discovered the posting. During a meeting in Las Vegas with detectives on the afternoon of Oct. 15, Moxon turned over a copy of the posting and a couple of others made by cameranonymous. After some initial investigating to confirm the thrust of the information Moxon had brought to them, detectives hastily put together the affidavit and persuaded a Las Vegas justice of the peace to authorize the search warrant.
But Rasmussen charged that detectives did not do enough independent investigating and, as a result, they misinterpreted his client’s intentions.
Rasmussen said Schoolcraft’s statements were taken out of context in an effort by the church to get police to “rattle some cages here” with an adversary of the church.
“Apparently, this church has a lengthy history of trying to suppress any negative commentary regarding their quasi-religious activities,” Rasmussen said in court papers seeking the return of the lawfully owned weapons and other items seized from Schoolcraft’s home.
Anonymous has posted a video on YouTube that, in a computer-generated voice, accuses Moxon of working with Metro Police to try to frame Schoolcraft in an attempt to “neutralize” a church opponent.
Rasmussen said his client was merely preparing to go to the desert and shoot at targets with other group members before staging a demonstration outside the Sahara Avenue Scientology facility, which officials estimate serves about 2,000 Las Vegans. Anonymous members commonly refer to their peaceful protests as “raids” and often practice shooting before they stage a protest, Rasmussen noted.
The demonstration took place Oct. 17 as scheduled without Schoolcraft, Rasmussen said.
In a Web posting attributed to “Las Vegas Anonymous” after Schoolcraft’s arrest, local group members said some of them were “target-shooting enthusiasts.”
The portion of Schoolcraft’s posting that talks about blowing things up simply refers to destroying such things as “watermelons” and “jugs of water” on the shooting range with legally purchased firearms, the group members wrote.
“Cameranonymous is an upstanding and law-abiding individual,” the posting said. “He is an avid hobbyist. Be it photography, automobiles, motorcycles, computers or firearms, he is a collector first and foremost.”
But Lt. Kevin McMahill of Metro’s Counter Terrorism Section said he believes authorities did the right thing in moving quickly to arrest Schoolcraft, who is not in custody.
“We would have preferred to have more time to investigate it, but we would have been entirely irresponsible if we didn’t take the action we did,” McMahill said. “I feel that we did what we had to do to keep the community safe.”
On top of Schoolcraft’s Web posting, detectives confirmed that he had purchased several weapons, including two AK-47s, a couple of months before the raid.
And the night of the raid, “we literally caught him in the act of loading his vehicle with the weapons,” McMahill said.
He said he does not know if or when investigators will come up with enough evidence to formally charge Schoolcraft with any attempts to commit acts of terrorism against the church. Investigators are poring over a mountain of information contained in Schoolcraft’s computers and are looking to see whether charges can be filed against others associated with Schoolcraft.
McMahill said the local chapter of Anonymous claims to have as many as 300 members, but he estimates the number is much fewer.
On one of its Web sites, Anonymous says it is made up of “people from all walks of life and has no rigid hierarchy or leadership.” It continues: “Our organization is accomplished entirely through the voluntary action and collaboration of individuals, many of whom do not know each other.”
In January 2008, Anonymous announced that it was ramping up its anti-Scientology efforts because YouTube, at the request of the church, had removed a video of Cruise discussing Scientology.
The group said it considered the pulling of the video censorship and an attack on free speech, and it intended to stop the church’s “fearmongering.”
“We acknowledge you as a serious opponent, and we are prepared for a long, long campaign,” Anonymous told the church in a video it posted on YouTube. “You will not prevail forever against the angry masses of the body politic.”
Jeff German is the Sun’s senior investigative reporter.
CORRECTION: A reference to an AK-47 was changed from a machine gun to an assault rifle. | (November 10, 2009)
Discussion: 92 comments so far…
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How can anybody possibly misinterpret the proposed course of action of a young man who buys, not one, but two AK47 assault rifles?
There is a clue here, the words assault rifles.
They are no use at all when playing tennis, or have limited effect on a golf course, they can't be used to mow the lawn and they don't perform worth a damn as paintbrushes.
This guy bought two assault rifles, and doubtless, lots of bullets to go with them.
Anyone can disagree with a religion all they like, but the traditional way to give out leaflets describing the actions of which you disapprove, not bursts of automatic gunfire.
Guns are not toys, the scandal is that so many of them are available to people who haven't grown up.
If you read the article, the guns were bought legally. I don't approve of the law, but he did nothing wrong in purchasing or owning the weapons.
For once I am in agreement with the French. The best course would be to ban Scientology as it is a cult. That is unless you believe in their theories regarding aliens (no not the illegal kind - the kind which come down in spaceships).
Comment removed by staff.
The Sun reported November 1, 2009, about Lavoni T. Kidd. This Las Vegas resident was on house arrest for three years having never committed a crime.
Those of us who have been falsely arrested in Clark County can sue the agency arresting us. Attorney Cal Potter is making a handsome living on Clark County false arrests, especially since arrest warrants are issued when the local courts computers go down.
Now, Mr. Kidd won the right for us in Las Vegas, who have been falsely arrested, to obtain the "personal" assets of those involved in our false arrest.
By Metro and the FBI's logic, therefore, it would be "safer" if we simply arrested everyone who might have *some* propensity to commit a crime before they actually did so. Thankfully, we don't live in a Philip K. Dick "Minority Report" universe and concepts like due process and evidence still have meaning. Unless there's more to the government's case than is set forth in the article, it looks like Mr. Schoolcraft will have a very good 1983 civil rights case against both the FBI and the LVMPD after the criminal charges are dismissed.
Sun, you did not report on the number of LVMPD officers and FBI agents that are oathkeepers that stand down on law enforcement orders if the criminal is a gun owner.
These members admittedly do not arrest criminals in order to preserve their right to bare arms.
Comment removed by staff.
WASP, torah, book of morons, and koran should all be ban. What a bunch of religious nutjobs and freaks. Hey WASP! mucho thanks for enslaving my forefathers with your bible. Rich WASP (global pimps of oppression)are the worst of the religious thugs. Is Hitler blushing? WASP stripped my forefathers of their native religions, customs, languages, and our women-folk were raped and bred like cattle. Maj. Hasan seems to be rather mild when he is compared to Boy George, who told a pack of WMD lies, and started Iraq-NAm, all for GOP grins, Juedo-Christian crusade, oil pilfering, and war profiteering for Cheney, Blackwater, GE-NBC, and Halliburton. 500K innocent and unsuspecting Iraqis (COLOREDS) wiped off the map.
As we slip down the slope to destroy freedom of speech when it is not 'politically correct' we now interpret intent of anyone who might disagree with a protected group. There is nothing in this article to describe a crime or even a threat of a crime. Why are we so willing to attack those who refuse to drink the kool aid and accept radicals.
I agree that law enforcement needs to err on the side of caution. However, having taken action, it is now their duty to investigate this case further.
They would learn that the Scientology organization has a history of this type of behavior; that they seek out people who are vulnerable to their accusations.
They would learn about Jesse Prince, a former member turned critic, whose home was invaded by a SWAT team in Clearwater, Florida at 2:00 am. Mr. Prince had been befriended by Rinzi Trinidad, a cover name for one of Scientology's PIs. SWAT was looking for marijuana. They found nothing but a couple of spindly little plants that had magically appeared in his back yard, which was easily accessible. This was in August, when most plants are ready for harvest. But mature plants aren't portable. In court, a jury determined that, while Mr. Prince had smoked weed with "Rinzi Trinidad," he had been set up. Charges were dismissed.
Then there is the case of Keith Henson, a man in his sixties who used to enjoy "blowing stuff up" in the desert back in the 1970s. His crime was, making a Tom Cruise Missile joke on a Usenet forum. In court, Scientology used paragraphs from a book, 'The Great Mambo Chicken and the Transhuman Experience' to portray Mr. Henson as a mad bomber. Never mind that the book was written thirty years prior to the trial. Never mind that Mr. Henson merely made a joke about a Tom Cruise Missile. Mr. Henson's biggest crime was having this happen in Riverside County, where Scientology's secret armed compound is located at Gilman Hot Springs.
Cameranonymous' post was twisted around by cult lawyers to sound like something dangerous.
"Let's go shoot up stuff in the desert, THEN raid the Scientology building." This suggests doing one, followed by the other.
"Let's go to Vegas, then go up to fish Pyramid Lake." Obviously you're not going to be fishing from your car on the freeway.
It's time for law enforcement to do the other part of the job, research. It will become painfully clear that Scientology has a history of this sort of tactic, using law enforcement personnel as their own private army. It's up to LEO to see that this is not allowed.
The names I've mentioned can be googled for further information. Mr. Henson's informative website is http://www.operatingthetan.com/.
Mr. Henson spent nearly a year in a Riverside jail because of Scientology's bogus shenanigans with law enforcement and the courts. He was convicted of a law that isn't even on the books! But then, Riverside County has a very cosy relationship with the cult in its midst.
Scientology is the 4th most destructive organization in the world.
weasel award #72 - scientology - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ0V7uer4...
Taking responsibility for my input;
Thank you, ----
Robert Evan Howard ----
aclepd.com ----
aclepd@aclepd.com ----
"Anonymous members commonly refer to their peaceful protests as "raids" and often practice shooting before they stage a protest, Rasmussen noted."
What? MAYBE Las Vegas does, but this implies that all anonymous participate in target practice before a raid...not true. Other cells should be commenting on this. I can tell you San Diego has NEVER done this!
Scientology is building a new "church" here?!? You know, I've defended Las Vegas quite a bit over the years. But this is just going too far. We've seen how our corrupt government allowed developers to rape the land and over-build homes that are becoming ghettos, drain our waters out of Lake Mead, and force Braid-Drain on the valley since.
How in the world can we expect already corrupt government and law enforcement agencies to be immune to a dangerous cult? Especially when you factor in how much more money Scientology has, and how easily peons can become star-struck.
If this is Vegas' future, I'm out.
That is unless you believe in their theories regarding aliens (no not the illegal kind - the kind which come down in spaceships).
----------------
How is that any more absurd than believing that a white bird came down from the heavens and got a teenage girl pregnant with the son of God? Or that God is really really mad at us, and the only way he will forgive us is to show up and let himself be killed, which is rather a form of suicide. God can't simply forgive and forget? He absolutely must have a human sacrifice? We give a tax break for believing this? I'm no fan of Scientology, but why is are their beliefs considered any more odd than what a lot of other faiths contend?
Sounds like preventive detention and an AK 47 in the US is usually not a "machine gun" - fully automatic - unless someone picked up a souvenir from Iraq.
Someone should complain to the justice department about the pattern of metro violating constitution rights. Maybe there's an alliance between the whack job Mormons and Scientologists of metro?
You might need an AK if some of those aliens from the planet Zobra linked up with the angle moronie, or whatever.
As usual, Metro arrests instead of investigates.
What happened to the constitution? Did someone in Nevada, like maybe Gillespie use it for toilet paper?
Gillespie, it's time to clean up your department.
The dude did nothing wrong here..
neiman Once again you fail to read and comrehend an article. I wonder if some of these statements and vailed threats were made against you if you would want immediate action from law enforcement? You are the one who has drank to much kool aid. You have never been a radical supporter rather a follower of right wing,neo con lies.
Religion, & quasi-religion, breeds zealots & extremists. "Soldiers." Zealots & extremists of different stripes engage each other as to one's true voracity.
Back and forth, centuries on end. Mass murder & mayhem in the name of... well, usually God.
But the thing they all truly seek is CASH. Money & POWER, cloaked in religious garb.
"Make money. Make more money. Make other people make money."
L. Ron Hubbard
We should revoke the tax exempt status of all churches and religious organizations, then we don't have to decide which is a valid religion. Also, why should non-believers subsidize the religion of others through paying additional taxes to cover what the churches don't pay?
HEY JEFF GERMAN: >>>>> A legally bought AK-47 is not a machine gun 1 pull of the trigger fires 1 round at a time' Get it right!
Teaser said:
I'm no fan of Scientology, but why is are their beliefs considered any more odd than what a lot of other faiths contend?
------------------------------------------------
Scientology IS in fact very different from other religions, because it is not one. It is a cult. It's whole purpose is to achieve monetary gain by exploiting it's members. With Christianity/Protestants, one simply needs to accept Christ, and BOOM! You get into heaven. Catholics have a different hierarchy you gotta go through first. Other religions like Judaism, Islam, Sikh, Hinduism, etc. have similar rules where you simply accept a deity and their teachings, and live your life accordingly. In any case, once you feel blessed, atoned, or just touched in some way by a hold spirit, you're done. And if it's not working for you, well there is always that "Free Will" aspect.
Scientology is much different. First, you gotta pay to ascend through courses. Whereas you don't even need to purchase a Bible or Koran, you have to pay for all your books, tapes, and auditing sessions. And you are not *saved* until you've paid enough for the church to allow you to be as such. Or in this case, "Theta Clear"/
What is quite disturbing about this is the fact that Scientology itself is really a terrorist organization. From kidnapping it's members and brain washing, to outright Government Activities such as "Operation Snow White".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_S...
So what we have here is a Terrorist Organization who has been documented in the past of successfully infiltrating our government for the purpose of espionage to compromise Law Enforcement Intelligence, and is now able to control these same Law Enforcement agencies to do their bidding. That's like Al Qaeda getting the FBI to arrest Oath Keepers, or Minute Man members.
This is not good.
Last year an Anonymous protester parked his car and stood in front of the scientology building holding a sign. Three men from the scientology security force (What kind of church has a secret police force?) pretended to do something to the Anon's car. He cut across thier lawn to see what was happening. They tackled him and cuffed him for tresspassing. How did Anonymous react? They mocked the protester and rejected him for letting himself be tricked.
Now the tresspassing charges have been dropped and scientology is being sued for assulting a man for stepping on the grass but the point remains: NEXT TO MOST PROTEST GROUPS ( Greenpeace, PETA) ANONYMOUS ARE BOYSCOUTS. And our opponents are downright thugs.
The most troubling aspect of this article is not the religion. It is this:"We would have preferred to have more time to investigate it, but we would have been entirely irresponsible if we didn't take the action we did," McMahill said. "I feel that we did what we had to do to keep the community safe."
On top of Schoolcraft's Web posting, detectives confirmed that he had purchased several weapons, including two AK-47s, a couple of months before the raid.
And the night of the raid, "we literally caught him in the act of loading his vehicle with the weapons," McMahill said.
He said he does not know if or when investigators will come up with enough evidence to formally charge Schoolcraft with any attempts to commit acts of terrorism against the church
So, a kid puts guns into his car and that is cause for arrest? They don't know if they will have enough evidence to charge the guy, yet they pull off a huge raid?
Come on, that's it? You talk about a violation of someone's rights. this is down right scary, what Metro did.
"Abundance of caution" is that the new standard to get someone arrested, or some lawyer tipping of police about "potential violence"? Why even bother with the law. Let's just trample on the rights of those who aren't rich.
At least most religions do something to help the poor such as soup kitchens, food and clothing drives, teaching third world countries how to better farm, etc.
When has Scientology ever done ANY of these things?
Sounds like if you protest anything, you can not own guns or enjoy the constitutional rights that so many have laid their lives down to protect.
These people have been protesting the Cult of Scientology, for good reason, for years and NO ONE has attacked any cult member. On the otherhand, one only has to visit YouTube to see videos of Scientology followers attacking protesters and showing their true colors. These charges will at the worst be reduced and plead out.
I think the FBI's guns and badges should be taken away, until they can understand what "suspicious-sounding communications" actually means.
I think that "Justices of the Peace" in Las Vegas should not allow these confused militant SWAT cops to "error on the side of caution," but rather send them back to the squad room, until they make themselves aware of the environment they are in--the environment in which they wish to pull their guns and point them at people.
What the authorities have proven to all of us in this episode, is they are dangerously inept and under-IQ'ed.
To hear a high level OT 8 Scientology "minister" beating a child that tried to run away from the abuse cult GO HERE >>> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Au2A-OvBD... .
This is the same stuff that went on at Jim Jones Peoples Temple.
thats an old map,i havnt seen that golf course depicted as the "stardust" country club for a long time
Doesn't anyone know that Scientology improves the ability of its parishioners?
Doesn't anyone know that it has been proven that it increases their intelligence and civilized behavior?
Isn't its practice akin to selling a man a fishing pole instead giving him a fish?
Many of its parishioners have become prosperous and powerful for good after attaining greater abilities.
This attracts persons to Scientology who recognize the need for improving their lives and those of others.
Such improvements help to create a safer world.
Processes to improve abilities and power for good are not for free.
Hence there is a need to defend against suppressive persons who, out of an irrational fear, intend to destroy organizations creating greater abilities and power for good in individuals and a safer environment for all.
Schoolcraft's efforts to destroy this Church have been effectively neutralized and the safety of its parishioners has been preserved.
I want to thank metro for getting this masked terrorist criminal off our streets.
I want to remind Las Vegas Sun readers, reporters, and reporters, that the Curch of Scientology's close contact with the Metropolitan Police Department in the past:
http://www.lermanet2.com/scientologynews...
SCHNORCHEL - glad you could take time out from the removal the evil thetan influence from you body to post here. blame it on that dang xenu.
Both of these groups are a bunch of crazy idiots. Arrest them all and throw them in a pit and let them sort it out amongst themselves.
I also want Las Vegas Sun readers to know that there are more Metro-Scientology connections. Specificly, Las Vegas Metro Officer's traning through Ignatius Piazza's (a scientologist "Clear Catholic") tactical/SWAT training school, Front Sight:
http://www.lermanet.com/scientologyscand...
http://www.dianahsieh.com/frontsight/
So SCHNORCHEL, basically what you're saying is it doesn't matter that there was no real evidence linking this kid to any sort of terrorist activity, and he was arrested and his property was taken away from him. Even though he's never been officially charged with a crime, he still cant get his property back and his rights as an American citizen were trampled on, and if it can happen to him, perhaps it can happen to anyone, but all that really matters is the church of scientology feels a little bit safer? Gee...and you guys wonder why you have such bad PR problems.
Oh and Terryeo, as usual you didnt really read the article. It should comfort you that the kid actually isnt "off the streets", he was never charged with a crime, and he's currently "out walking the streets".
I want to make it clear that the vast majority of protesters do NOT engage in target shooting before raids. However, it makes sense that if they have any hobbies, they might engage in those on the same day as a raid. Cameranonymous is a gun enthusiast, and likes to go target shooting with friends. Although the Church of Scientology pounced on the coincidence between his plan to go target shooting and his plan to attend a raid, his hobby has nothing to do with his behavior at raids, which are peaceful protests.
Scientology doesn't improve the lives of any of it's members. It's totally fake in both it's mythological, as well as it's practicing technological aspects. L. Ron Hubbard was a failed Science Fiction writer who barely got any of his work published. No one was interested in it because it wasn't any good.
Later on he tried publishing his own self-help book series, and it failed miserably as well. The wealth and fame that L. Ron Hubbard always so desperately sought out he could not achieve. Until he patched his books together, and created a cult.
And let's not forget the infamous "E-Meter". Once a simple toy lie detector sold in the back of comic books right next to the Sea Monkeys and X-Ray Specs, L. Ron Hubbard then decided to market it as a "tool" for "Auditing". What only costs a few dollars in raw materials to make, they sell for thousands of dollars to their members. And that's not counting the cost of classes so you can learn how to use the thing. Just one of many ways that rather than help people, the organization is geared as a for-profit corporation.
And of course this is where Scientology likes to play "Cat and Mouse". You bring up these facts, and they'll try to change the subject. Once you pin them into the corner, they in turn either try to place the proof of burden onto you, or commence with outright defamatory comments against you to try and discredit you. All the while, pay close attention to how they never challenge the claims laid against them. The silence is deafening...
People are attracted to Scientology because they're young, insecure, lonely, and have no guidance in life. Scientology, like an abusive pimp promises people that they can unlock the secrets of their minds, unleash their hidden potentials, and whatever else they want. And of course once you're in, you're held in against your will. Otherwise, you're "Fair Game", and it is morally acceptable to the church at that time to actually murder you. People are no smarter after any of their sessions, or successful in any of their careers. But they certainly are poorer. Both financially and emotionally.
The evidence here seems pretty thin. It sounds a lot like a "Minority Report" situation. The irony being, of course, Tom Cruise starred in that movie... and the movie denounced pre-crime.
To me, it sounds far more plausible to me that the "church" leveraged a resource to "neutralize" the threat. But I guess the evidence will come out in due course.
This story tells me that its time for the government to take over all organized religious activities in the U.S. I'm writing to Pelosi, Reid, and Obama to this effect.
In view of the the history of Anonymous threats against Church of Scientology members - and more than a handful are on public record - it is no surprise to find one of their members involved in training with assault weapons. His open threats and announcement to shoot Scientologists, and be it only symbolized full-size photographs, should be a wake-up call for everyone. Anonymous has gone too far and tripped over the border of mere harassment and discrimination to open acts of violence.
Please stop using the term assault weapon. Most of you have no clue when it comes to firearms. Guess that the original assault rifle was...The black-powder musket.
Take the Ruger Mini-14. It shoots .223 and is clip fed. In the standard ranch version that comes from the factory, the gun is equipped with a traditional wood stock. Now, if I take that wood stock and replace it with a composite black folding stock with a pistol grip, all of a sudden its an assault rifle. Still fires the same round, still fires the same rate as 1 pull 1 bullet, but now its black and evil looking.
Scientology is a joke and should lose their tax exempt status, but so should all other churches.
Louanne, for one he made no open threats at all, aside from announcing that he would go target shooting before the protest that day. If he actually did any of these things, why is it they cant find enough evidence to actually charge him with anything? There's also no threats on "Public Record" that any anonymous member has ever made that you can produce.
For another, a legally bought Romanian ak-47 clone is not an assault weapon, by any definition of the word, and going out to the desert to shoot at garbage is hardly what i would call "training". It's generally called "sport shooting" it's a hobby that millions of peaceful Americans enjoy.
Scientologists really need to come to terms with the fact that there is no "terrorist organization" plotting against them. Keep in mind that scientologists also consider psychiatry to be a terrorist organization.
There's no secret terrorist plots against you, it's just peaceful protesters, who happen to disagree with your organization. We'd all be a lot better off, if you just deal with that. Instead of discrediting your critics, why dont you address their issues. Even if you succeed in discrediting a few, more will appear, they'll never go away until your organization reforms itself.
Hey look it is Louanne!
Louanne is a fun Scientology troll. Louanne only shows up when truthful, but damning information is posted about Scientology.
Things like Operation Snow White. People should google that and see what kind of shenanigans the "Church" of Scientology likes to perpetrate.
What's Operation Snow White? Well that would be the largest infiltration of the US Government that has ever occurred. Hell, the Church of Scientology beats other governments out for being shady bastards. Oh, and did I forget to mention, the scientology lawyer involved in this whole mess, Kendrick Moxon, was involved with that? I still can't believe the guy was never disbarred let alone bringing frivolous charges against innocent protesters.
Nice to see you around here Louanne. Would you care to comment on Kendrick Moxon being involved with Operation Snow White?
Yes why is Ken Moxon not in jail for his role in the greatest infiltration of the US government in history? Why is Scientology still around and not shut down? Apparently it is ok for an organization to engage in dangerous behavior, but not ok for individuals to talk about firearms without suddenly being threatening.
Louanne said.
"Anonymous has gone too far and tripped over the border of mere harassment and discrimination to open acts of violence."
Extremely ironic, did not Hubbard himself say that criminals tended to accuse others of what they are already guilty of? There is an abundance of information suggesting that "mere harassment" is a Scientology mainstay. But what is one to make of this?
"Every one of them (Scientology executives.) has extensive (gun collections)... I know David Miscavige has at least 3 or 4 gun cabinets full of all different kind of rifles, hand guns, this type of thing. Norman Starkey, the same, he even has an elephant gun there, that just knocks you away. L. Ron Hubbard was fascinated with guns. Richard Aznaran, his first introduction to doing something with L. Ron Hubbard that I know of, besides being his personal secretary, was to be his gun IC. This was to take the extensive amount of guns he has, which I would say would be over 40, 50 guns and rifles, and make sure that they're cleaned, buy new ones. He would go up there and test them. People in RTC would buy him guns, he would shoot them and say, "Oh, this is really nice." It was definite gun activity."
http://www.factnet.org/Scientology/jesse...
I don't blame LVMPD for taking action. After all, you expect a lawyer providing evidence to the police to be both reasonable and honest. Unfortunately the cult lawyer, Kendrick Moxon, was an unindicted co-conspirator in the Operation Snow White prosecutions that sent L. Ron Hubbard's wife, Mary Sue, and 8 other cult leaders to jail. Google it. Moxon can't be trusted, in my opinion.
This article is the most balanced, well researched, nonbiased, and thoroughly concise writing I have read. Fantastic article, Jeff! News media needs more writers like you!
I do not condone that this protester was arrested just because he was talking about shooting things and having a gun collection. By that logic McMahill should arrest every member of the NRA for talking about the same stuff 24/7 online.
Also I am very concerned of Scientology using P.I.'s to investigate critics. I remember when Frank Oliver told his story about this practice in Scientology on 20/20 back in the 90s. And if Louanne really is a Scientologist as the rest of the comments say, then its no wonder Scientology is earning so much notoriety being so bigot-like towards critics.
Its time religious institutions stop persecuting those who question them. Scientology's attitude towards critics is primitive and old-fashioned. The inquisition and witch hunts died out for a reason, Scientologists. If you guys are as ethical and as humane as you say you are, then act like it, especially when someone criticizes your organization.
Good job to Metro SWAT and all the people who help to put this terrorist threat behind bars and my hat is of to the Las Vegas Sun for report this event. So what the Sun made a small mistake about the type of AK47, they are only human. But this guy, Colby Schoolcraft is not human, as a hunter and gun owner, I tell you the only reason why a person would own a AK47 in Las Vegas is to kill police officers, firemen and law-abiding tax paying Americans. The only problem I do have with Metro is that they do not go after and far enough to stop more anti-American Nazi Communist like this Colby Schoolcraft.
SkyNet, when you deny that Colby is human, it invalidates everything else in your post.
I would like to echo the remarks of the commenters here who said members of Anonymous do not go target shooting before raids. The writer of this article has taken something Las Vegas Anons do and extrapolated it to all of Anonymous. It's possible some individual Anons do indulge in target shooting, just as some may bake cakes, shoot hoops, volunteer at animal shelters, paint, and so on, but I've never seen evidence that Anons go target shooting any more than the average person. The writer should correct the article.
I again, applaud Las Vegas Metro's quick and decisive action against this vicious bigoted extremist masked internet terrorist!
Based solely on the word of the honorable Kendric Moxon, like shining eagles, they swooped down on this hapless hatemonger without so much as a shred of evidence or wasting time on frivolities such as due-process, they perserved RELIGIOUS FREEDOM for millions of southern Nevadans.
Freedom to expand Scientology and Hubbards 100% workable technology into schools via Applied Scholastics, prisons via Criminon and drug rehabilitation via Narcanon. Freedom to use Hubbard technology to "shudder into silence" supressives such as protesters, "merchants of chaos" such as journalists and degraded apostate ex-members, via imtimidation, fear, and the courts. Freedom to finally destroy the dangerous and criminal fields of Psychology and Psychairatry, who are the ACTUAL perpetrators of all of human suffering.
Finally, the freedom to eliminate the degraded 2% of humanity who are below 2.0 on the tone scale (which include: critics of Hubbard, criminals, and filthy homosexuals) "quietly and without sorrow" utilizing Hubbards flawless and 100% workable technology to usher in a Scientology world! A world without insanity, without criminals and without war!
MARK MY WORDS: THE STREETS SHALL RUN RED WITH BLOOD OF THE NON-BELIEVERS!!!
It's not for me to say whether Schoolcraft is a terrorist or not; I don't believe the $cientologists should be hurt in any way.
I wish that $cientology was prosecuted under the RICO Act before their IRS church exemption.
Now, that having been said, $cientology is a horrific cult, pure and simple.
David Miscavige (the Leader of $ci and known as COB, Captain of the Boat) is well known for physically abusing his staff, and encouraging followers to be physically abusive as well.
Charging members hundreds of thousands of dollars to learn their "teachings". (See YouTube for interview with actor Jason Beghe.) Those that can't pay are turned into slaves for the $cientology elite. (Google Sea Org and RFP)
Those in the RPF are treated like slaves and have experienced working conditions that can only be described as inhuman, eat nothing but rice, beans and the leftovers out of the trashcan from meals of those members in good standing. RPFs are also punished by withholding food and working in untreated sewage. In Clearwater, FL RPFs are punished be being forced to run around a poll on hot, humid days for hours on end with little or no water and rest.
They tear families apart, some married couples not seeing their spouses or children for months or years.
They will also "disconnect" members from other, non-scientology family members because they may deem them "SP"s, or Suppresive Persons. That means parents from children and spouses from each other.
Once absorbed into $cientology, one cannot simply leave. Those disillusioned who want to leave are told to "route out". What does this mean? Being held prisoner, enduring POW-like conditions, sleep deprivation, and suffering untold numbers of "Sec Checks" (Google it). When the Auditor finally realises s/he can't sucker them back in, the disillusioned are forced to sign non-disclosure agreements - they also happen to include clauses that state that if the disillusioned says anything against $ci., $ci. will turn around and spill all of that person's "deepest secrets".
Those people that do escape or "blow" are hunted down like dogs and harrassed. They are even sent "Freeloaders Bills" in the thousands of dollars.
Members are told that if they do leave, they will become drug addicts and never be able to make it on the "outside".
Oh, and lets not forget Lisa McPherson. May she Rest in Peace.
$cientology has done so much damage
So how many FBI Agents & Metro Cops were from above mentioned Church?
Scientology works, and it helps people! I have been a Scientologist for many years. Just go to your local org to hear the facts from dedicated children working 80+ hours a week with little rest and no freetime! See, thats what Anonymous does not get, Scientology, and its child workforce are dedicated to our cause. The children even volunteer to not be allowed to ever see their families. That is dedication Anonymous will never understand.
Anonymous is nothing but a hate group, which is funded by pyschiatrists, yes the same psychiatrists that started the Holocaust. These same psychiatrists that are commanded to hinder mankind's spiritual development by the 4th and 5th Marcab Fleets from a distant star system who are still mad at our body thetans for rebelling against the supreme ruler of the galaxy Lord Xenu!
You cannot believe Anonymous, I think I have made that point clear with the Anonymous = Pyschiatry = Holocaust = Splace Aliens example.
Don't believe the internet, or the news stations, or the newspapers, or your friends, or your police, or your psychiatrist, or your government. They all lie about Scientology. Only listen to us, no one else. Anyone not CoS lies
Louanne is indeed a Scientology operative, Dave Miscavige's right hand woman, as it were. Moxon is his pitbull, and has been manufacturing evidence against Scientology's enemies for many years, even after his own daughter died mysteriously on the cult's Riverside compound.
The usual drill is to stalk, harass, and threaten a critic. If that fails, to sic private investigators on them to find extortion material or juicy gossip. Failing that, as in this case- they invent some. (It's not unusual for a Scientology operative to call a critic's boss and repeat slanders- drug addiction, AIDS, and pedophilia are their favorite accusations.) They'll flier your neighborhood, picket your house, even visit your children at school. They're remorseless, relentless, and vicious.
Anonymous makes it tougher on them, through anonymity and sheer size, but consider that this comment was "discovered" by a private investigator hired by Moxon to eavesdrop on private chats, an activity that is repeated in hundreds of cities, at great expense, all funded by donations from public Scientologist who believe they are donating to mainstream church endeavors.
One has to wonder if any other "church" on earth maintains its own private paramilitary group, its own intelligence organization, and thousands of lawyers and private investigators (many of whom are indicted for their tactics.) No other religious group has ever argued before the Supreme Court that they have a legal right to harass critics and defectors as a tenet of their faith.
I know most of these tactics from observing them first hand. I am by profession a journalist who lost a job with a well-known company after reporting on some of my discoveries. This so-called "church" gloated about it and stalked me and my family for months afterward.
It won't work Louanne, Kendrick, Terryeo. You've sown the wind.
Two of my hobbies are, research and infiltrating. Last year, as I was doing research into the background of Adolf Hitler and into people in today's times who appears to have the same view point as Adolf , some of the things I found that was said about Hitler from supporter and foes was that he is not human. Some of the things learned about Hitler was that he was born the 20th day of April 1889 and murdered by his supporters on the 30th day of April 1945 and was an Austrian-born German politician who lead the National Socialist German Workers Party. His supporters came to the same conclusion that I have arrived at about Colby Schoolcraft, which was and is based on statements by the two men listed supra, and here after Non Human; these two men have a way of tickling the ears of supporter and at the same time stabbing them in the heart with untruth that they know to be very untrue. The only different between the two is one was loved and murdered by supporters and the other was taken out by a system that finally started working for the people and by the people. Had this modern day Non Human anti-American Nazi Communist made good on his promises, many people would have said why didn't anyone stop this monster, he said he was going to do it. A non human fits because a monster can show signs of intelligence. If Colby Schoolcraft had any intelligence Metro would have never been able to stop him before he carried out his actions. Thank the Lord for stupid people!!! It is ok with POC and our race to have viewed the black race as non human ie monkeys by it is not ok for me to call a monster like Colby Schoolcraft a non human. Things that make you go hmm.
My next research study will be on the Colby Schoolcraft target and the statement or comment made by his supporters.
Now this comment area has become "Battlefield Earth". Great, now we'll have John Travoltra dressed up as a big headed gorilla-man trying to put ratmeat into our mouths. I can't believe how all those stars tilth 10% to the people that would kiss @ss if the lizards from "V" came over to take care of us.
it is a religion -- a $ making proposition --- as most religions truly are . as you can see/ suspect -- i am not a believer in any of these religions/cults... not...
Please--EVERYONE--go now and watch the movie Zeitgeist. You can watch it on-line. It will wake you up from your 24 hr sleep walk..
I cannot speak for the members of the Vegas contingent of Anonymous, however as an active participant in Phoenix Anonymous I support Mr. Schoolcraft in this matter.
Ever since our(Phoenix Anonymous) formation in Feb 2008, we have considered the possibility that the fraudulent nature of Scientology may manifest itself against us, the new vocal critics of Scientology. Potentially in the extreme nature that was exhibited in the case of Paulette Cooper, or as minor as the stalking Scientology used to do to us after a protest. Due to this consideration we made the decision to maintain an extremely high level of cooperation and communication with local law enforcement. To date, and by our request, every single protest we(phoenix anonymous) have staged has been under supervision of plain clothes police and 100% within compliance with their recommendations. Even nearly two years later, if we(Phoenix Anonymous) do not have our requested visible police presence(ie: if we show up early or stay late) our local Scientology managers will take this as an opportunity to call 911 and make outrageous accusations against our fully legal and peaceful stand against them.
I do not blame the Vegas FBI, or local Law Enforcement, for they have been "handled" (as they say) by the very Cult I seek to dismantle though frank and honest criticism. Manipulating police activity like this is just one of the trademarks of Scientology, I fear the other tactics Scientology uses will not be as obvious to spot.
As for the guns, some of us down here target shoot as well. After all being a huge 1st Amendment geek, tends to go along with being a vocal supporter of the 2nd Amendment as well. However we(Phoenix Anonymous) requested among us long ago that we keep outside activities such as that out side of protest related communications, to prevent association with our protesting activities. We(Phoenix Anonymous) engage in many activities with the friends we have made though this, and target shooting is no more suspicious than the blacklight bowling, latenight rockband, and videogames some of us enjoy together.
tl:dr version: Phoenix Anons Support Mr. Schoolcraft in this case. We know, by association, that you were completely within your rights.
Another member from Phoenix, in regards to the following quote:
"Anonymous members commonly refer to their peaceful protests as "raids" and often practice shooting before they stage a protest, Rasmussen noted."
While Rasmussen seems to have his head on straight otherwise, this has bothered quite a few Anons. Like my protest mate was getting at above me, we have never gone and 'practiced shooting' before, after, during or even near a protest. The worst we could be accused of is being chronic bowlers (or rock banders, or go kart racers).
I'm also thinking about taking up cupcake baking as a pre-raid hobby. Delicious, and non-threatening. When dealing with the public eye and the manipulative P.I.s and lawyers that Scientology employs, it is best to be beyond reproach. Err on the side of caution. Always.
I'd rather be caught with frosting on my fingers or a xbox controller in my hands than anything on the day of a protest. Let's be smart guys, we're really dealing with professional manipulators in Scientology. For some it's their entire job to make us look bad! The best we can do is make that dang near impossible for them.
"McMahill said the local chapter of Anonymous claims to have as many as 300 members, but he estimates the number is much fewer."
Las Vegas has a population of around 1,865,000 and < 300 members of Scientology. This means roughly 1,864,700 Las Vegas citizens are Anonymous to me, while 300 are possibly scientologists.
If you are not part of the problem then you're part of the solution; the more people that don't join the cult of scientology the better.
Did I say 300? Sorry I meant 30, please adjust figures accordingly in above post.
Where is the LEGAL JUSTIFICATION for searching this man's property? A "tip-off" from an attorney of the supposed victim.
WTF is happening to this country?
Cult; a noun Origination: Latin (cultus): first time spoken between was 1610--1620
The first and original meaning has always been: an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal, or thing, esp. as manifested by a body of admirers: the physical fitness cult. No mention of churches or religion in general. The key words in the original meaning is great veneration of a person as manifested by a body of admirers.
Based on the above you can have health club cults, Cult of personality Cult suicide Destructive cult Doomsday cult Political cult.
Is Lewis Faracon and his supporter a destructive cult? Yes. Why isn't Colby Schoolcraft and his supporter going after them? Hmm.
The Skin Heads in Las Vegas, are they a destructive cult? Yes. Why isn't Colby Schoolcraft and his supporter going after them? Hmm.
The KKK are they a destructive cult? Yes. Why isn't Colby Schoolcraft and his supporter going after them? Hmm.
Is the church of Scientology a destructive cult? I don't know but will soon find out when I go in and see for my self.
Could it be that this non human Colby Schoolcraft and his supporter really be a destructive cult?
Well I do not know, but the good guys, the Federal Government and Las Vegas Metro think so. And when the day ends and all is said the good guys are the ones I respect and support.
I did find, through a FOIA request, that people who own a AK47s are 78 time more likely to lie to the IRS on the 1040 and 42 times more likely to kill members of their own race along with people they do not know. This is why I do not own an AK47, so I wont be on some FBI list. Like I said in my last post, stupid people, thank God some people don't belong. Which are you?
Too bad Louanne does'nt have any evidence for her claims
that threats were utterered against Scientology or Scientologists. Actual facts are'nt going to stop the OSA internet handlers from making the claim though.
On the other hand I have evidence of David Miscavige making violent threats against psychiatrists, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hfu7Sr50N... . Notice the action verbs and phrases he's using, "Scientology is using a smartbomb to sniff out and blowup the psych's funding, booby-trapping the psychiatric ecosystem ", "global obliteration of psychiatry", "psychiatry is a virus and a dark spell". There's an animated graphic of a grenade blowing up when he talks about Scientology's smart-bomb.
Scientology and David Miscavige are the ones who should be investigated for making violent threats, and Gold Base should be searched to see what kind of weapons stash they have.
"I did find, through a FOIA request, that people who own a AK47s are 78 time more likely to lie to the IRS on the 1040 and 42 times more likely to kill members of their own race along with people they do not know."
I heard that your cult owns machine guns at Gold Base, assault rifles with scopes, there's even a sniper tower.
LORDGLENMORE: Irrespective of your factually incorrect views on "assault weapons", those devices are perfectly legal in NV. Please move back to CA, and take your anti-2A views with you.
Anonymous
For the anti-Scientology protest group which splintered from this group, see Project Chanology.
Actions attributed to Anonymous are undertaken by unidentified individuals who apply the Anonymous label to themselves. After a series of controversial, widely-publicized protests and reprisal DDoS attacks by Anonymous in 2008, incidents linked to its cadre members are said to be increasingly common.
Distributed attack
A distributed denial of service attack (DDoS) occurs when multiple systems flood the bandwidth or resources of a targeted system, usually one or more web servers. These systems are compromised by attackers using a variety of methods.
Malware can carry DDoS attack mechanisms; one of the better-known examples of this was MyDoom. Its DoS mechanism was triggered on a specific date and time. This type of DDoS involved hardcoding the target IP address prior to release of the malware and no further interaction was necessary to launch the attack.
A system may also be compromised with a trojan, allowing the attacker to download a zombie agent (or the trojan may contain one). Attackers can also break into systems using automated tools that exploit flaws in programs that listen for connections from remote hosts. This scenario primarily concerns systems acting as servers on the web.
Stacheldraht is a classic example of a DDoS tool. It utilizes a layered structure where the attacker uses a client program to connect to handlers, which are compromised systems that issue commands to the zombie agents, which in turn facilitate the DDoS attack. Agents are compromised via the handlers by the attacker, using automated routines to exploit vulnerabilities in programs that accept remote connections running on the targeted remote hosts. Each handler can control up to a thousand agents.[8]
These collections of systems compromisers are known as botnets. DDoS tools like stacheldraht still use classic DoS attack methods centered on IP spoofing and amplification like smurf attacks and fraggle attacks (these are also known as bandwidth consumption attacks). SYN floods (also known as resource starvation attacks) may also be used. Newer tools can use DNS servers for DoS purposes. (see next section)
Why Anonymous do not go after cults like the KKK, Las Vegas Skyheads and Lewis Faracon is because they are all cowards.
But I wonder why the FBI and Metro do not see them as I do? COWARDS
Tom Cruise is rounding up a possee of Kirstie Alley, Katie Holmes, Jenna Elfman, Doug E. Fresh, Leah Remini, Greta Van Susteren, Jason Lee to go after Anonymous and cut them off at the pass!!!!!
My bad, it should read Las Vegas Skinheads not Skyheads.
You forgot Isaac Hayes Burrittobandit2
Oh yes, the late Isaac Hayes. They will replace him with Chick Correa.
Of the above bloggers who see that a man's civil rights have been violated, you are invited to join our class action. 702-787-0002
The Ninth Circuit published a ruling September 2009 that Clark County residents cannot be arrested for the "perception" of a threat. In this same published ruling, the judges stated Clark County residents can sue the individuals denying civil rights.
Armed with this ruling, we are pursuing the personal assets of FBI, LVMPD, Clark County, Las Vegas, etc. personnel.
Government has a fiduciary duty to the taxpayers to provide equal protection of the law and due process. If you are a taxpayer, you have a right to file a claim.
Civil rights what country do you think you live in. You better ask the FBI and LVMPD first, if it is ok before you wast your time and money in court.
The government do not have any fiduciary duty to the taxpayers to provide equal prodtection and due process.
File your claim
My money is on the FBI and LVMPD they are the real good guys here.
We have been under martial law for the last 96 years. Look at your rights befroe 1913 and look at the rights we have today.
Anonymous has not rights!!!
While not a big Scientology, I am also not a big fan of long hair. Maybe that is the problem. Guy cant afford a hair cut, so maybe not worth anything to Reverend Moon, or whomever.
Like the movies from Cruze and the other guy, 'though. Not expecting the Liverpool boy to get rich.
When pursuing the personal property of the FBI and the militant cops, remember to be civil about it.
Remember it's nothing personal to them--they could care less. They are just putting in their time with the government until they can retire at 50, then become Scientology private investigators, and make the big money.
By civil I mean: take their homes, and Lake Meade houseboats, but leave them the RV to live in and one pickup truck to get to work in. Leave the little woman the four-wheeler to get the groceries.
The enimies of Scientology are bigots who cannot be reasoned with, nor deserve so-called "civil-rights" of any kind.
Is it true that the judge ordered the police to give all of his guns and property back?
Anonymous, you play with a bull you will get the horn fool.
See
Altavista search: us siberia bill fool
Terryeo:
I do not criticize Scientology for it's beliefs, which they have a right to. What I criticize (and consequently protest) are it's abuses, practices such as coerced abortions, and harassment of critics.
'Enemies of Scientology' as you call us are not bigots, and we are not protesting because we are "utterly intolerant of any differing creed, belief, or opinion." (definition of 'bigot')
Labeling us as 'bigots' is inaccurate and merely an easy way to dismiss us. We always welcome an open and frank dialogue with local Scientologists, unfortunately it is on their end where they choose not to have an honest conversation.
A dangerous precedent might be set here if we suddenly label all critics as bigots, however, the two are not the same. It's entirely possible to be one and not the other. I am in no way intolerant of Scientology's beliefs. I am critical of their tactics and handling of individuals. There's a HUGE difference. I hope you might learn that in time.
Coerced abortions and harassment of critics.
And what else? Don't hold back.
Dangerous precedent?
Bigots = one who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices.
Bigots = one who is strongly partial to one's own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.
Bigots = a hypocrite'
Enemies = Someone who is hostile to, feels hatred towards, opposes the interests of, or intends injury to someone else.
A hostile force or nation; a fighting member of such a force or nation.
An alliance of such forces.
Anonymous fit all of the above and you know it!!! Please view YouTube video Anonymous put out about Message to Scientology if you need further proof. Bigoted enemies yes but more Adolf Hitlerish if you ask net.
Dangerous precedent like what? Alkida
You may call me John Connor.
SkyNet (not John Connor):
I'm sorry, I fail to see how a 'bigot' is analogous to 'hypocrite'. Firstly, I can speak only for myself: I'm not ignorantly opposed to Scientology "just because". I have a vast many reasons for standing out on the street corner, among them are Lisa McPherson, Elli Perkins, Jeff Jacobsen, the countless members that have committed suicide, Shawn Lonsdale, etc. NONE of my reasons are simply out of intolerance, and you cannot pretend to know otherwise, for you simply do not know me as a person and cannot condemn my own actions based on the actions of others.
Personally, I feel ZERO hatred towards Scientology. I intend no injury to any Scientologist, I'm not even hostile towards anyone.
I'm also extremely aware of a great many YouTube videos in regards to Anonymous. I cannot find exactly which parts of these videos you are referring to. Yes, one video did ask for the destruction of the cult *in it's current form*. As this is quite open to interpretation, let me enlighten you as to my interpretation: Scientology, as it stands today, and as it stood 2 years ago, is malignant. I believe David Miscavige is a dangerous person and Scientology's current tax exempt status is borderline unconstitutional. I believe that Scientology is responsible for various hurts and ills it has caused thousands of people.
The "dangerous precedent" I am referring to is calling all critics of an organization bigots. Criticism is not bigotry simply because the subject of this criticism is a "religion". I respect a Scientologist's right to believe what they want to believe, however, I do think that Scientologists can have their beliefs without the attacking critics, abortion, murder, suicide stuff that seems to circle around Scientology. I draw a HUGE line in the sand with this: I can be critical of Scientology's tactics and practices without infringing on their right to believe what they want to believe. I highly doubt that any Scientologist would say that they "believe" in the murder of Lisa McPherson, or that they "believe" in harassing critics.
Let me reiterate: CRITICISM IS NOT BIGOTRY.
Also, I believe it is called 'Al-Qaeda', though I haven't the slightest clue what that has to do with anything, or the Hitler thing, though I believe you were perhaps going for Godwin's law.
@Skynet
I made you a reply, but it was to long... 3000 characters is childs play.
I left it at pastebin.com/f231fcdc3
Skynet writes "Colby Schoolcraft is not human, as a hunter and gun owner, I tell you the only reason why a person would own a AK47 in Las Vegas is to kill police officers, firemen and law-abiding tax paying Americans. The only problem I do have with Metro is that they do not go after and far enough to stop more anti-American Nazi Communist like this Colby Schoolcraft."
One question for Skynet: how's the weather on your planet?