What if...

[Ymir]

What would happen if someone on U.S. soil declared that he or she renounced the authority imposed on them by the U.S. government. What would the government do? Would they send the person into exile? Would they be held in prison or shot for treason?

[RedCeltic]

They would be raided by the FBI and brought up on trumped up charges like not paying taxes or something.

This has happened before in the US.

[Borincano]

Like they've done to countless supporters of Puerto Rican independence, depending on the person's influence, would either assassinate the person, send them to jail for some outrageous charge and torture them there, or just keep close surveilance of the person and/or destroy their credibilty.

[suffianr]

They'd be on Letterman by Friday night. And Jerry Springer, too.

[Supermodel]

There are quite a few groups out west who have done this. Montana is a popular place for them to set up shop.

The only thing they do illegally is fail to file tax returns. However, since they are dirt poor, the government doesn't care that much. Many poor poeploe do not file taxes adn it has nothing to do with not wanting to be American.

Basically they get ignored unless they commit another crime or fail to stop for the police or something.

[abstractmentality]

if they took action on it, then you would see a revival of the old COINTELPRO people.

[Conghaileach]

COINTELPRO has already been revived.

[abstractmentality]

ciaranB, really, i havent kept up with it. you have some info for me?