ACTION PLAN - Mission: Expose APF

Okay folks, we know what we are capable of. There has been a lot of supposition and drawing of wild conclusions. Whatever your personal take on where this whole APF thing is going or if it fits into a bigger picture or not, let's put that aside for a minute and focus on what we know and what we can do about it. For now, we are still operating in the real world outside conspiracy land so lets take some action that will net some real results.

1) More investigative information.

The Billings Gazette seems to be on top of this as is a local AP reporter. We need this to go viral. Below are a list of their stories as well as an associated one on the general topic. Pass these on to friends, family, media contacts, etc. and let's see if this doesn't start to leak into the "minion media." If there is some fire behind this smoke, someone will pick it up and find it.

(PDF download of 2008 review) http://leg.mt.gov/content...

(PDF download of Governor's Letter) http://governor.mt.gov/br...

http://www.helenair.com/n...

http://www.billingsgazett...

http://www.helenair.com/n...

http://www.helenair.com/n...

http://www.helenair.com/n...

http://www.helenair.com/n...

2) Legal Opinions

This needs to come from two directions in three areas:

A) citizens of Hardin especially, but anyone in Montana will do. Call, write, or fax the City Attorney (if you have one), the District Attorney, as well as the State Attorney General and ask for a legal opinion on the following topics:

1) Can a city, township, etc. contract with a private firm for police services?

2) Can this contract include powers of arrest, detention, search, seizure, investigation, use of force both lethal and non, etc.?

3) Are the same protections afforded police and peace officers in this state extended to such contractors? (such as prohibitions on assaulting an officer, resisting arrest, impeding an investigation etc.)

4) Who in law enforcement should citizens rely on for assistance when faced with a private contractor attempting to exercise a police power outside of that afforded to citizens under the power of citizen arrest? Sheriffs? State Troopers? Federal Marshals?

*We can all do this with our local officials and that is a good thing to get the topic exposure, but it needs to be Hardin and Montana residents who call local officials there. Officials are more apt to be responsive to local and state residents than anyone outside their area.

B) This one can come from anyone in Montana. Call, write, or fax the local Sheriff, State Troop, Governor, and Federal Marshal service and ask them:

1) for any advice they can give when faced with such a situation as a private contractor attempting to effect an arrest, detention, search, seizure, or the use of force both lethal and non, outside of normal citizen arrest powers.

2) Will they, and have they considered how to handle such situations to protect the citizen?

*Again, if you aren't in Hardin or Montana, do the same, but with your own local and state officials.


######### CONTACT INFO ########

Governor Brian D. Schweitzer
Office of the Governor
Montana State Capitol Bldg.
P.O. Box 200801
Helena MT 59620-0801
(406) 444-3111, FAX (406) 444-5529

Lieutenant Governor John Bohlinger
Office of the Lt. Governor
Montana State Capitol Bldg.
PO Box 200801
Helena, MT 59620-1901
(406) 444-3111, FAX (406) 444-4648

C) Again, from anyone, including people in Hardin and greater Montana, as well as the rest of us. Call, write, or fax your own State Representatives, Congressman, and Senators and ask them:

1) for any information they have on applicable laws concerning the hiring and use of private security contractors in lieu of public police and peace officers.

2) Are there any laws allowing such practice?

3) Are there any laws prohibiting it?

4) Are there any studies on the issue?

5) Can public funds be used for policing activities paid to a private firm?

6) Will the legislator consider looking into legislation that would protect citizens from being subjected to such contractors being used in lieu of public officers?

7) Will they consider or are there laws making such private contractors subject to the same oversight and scrutiny as public officials? Subject to FOIA? etc.

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If anyone has any other action item suggestions, please reply with ACTION ITEM at the start of your reply and I'll add them in or re-word what I have here.

Also, if you have more news articles to add to the list, let me know. But be forewarned, I will only add traditional news sources at this time. The point is to use these to wake up or notify others who are not used to alternative sources and will not be likely to trust them.

If you managed to get any information, please reply with REPORT in the front of your subject and I'll include it in an edit here as well.

America needs to have this debate. Let's make it happen.