An anti-government movement known as Freeman on the Land has become a 鈥渕ajor policing problem鈥� in B.C. and several other provinces, according to a threat assessment by Canada鈥檚 spy officials.
The report by the 91原创 Security Intelligence Service lists Freeman members among 鈥渄omestic extremists鈥� who associate with issue-based causes, such as environmentalism, anti-capitalism, anti-globalization and far-right racism.
Its adherents fall on both the left and right wings of the political spectrum, but 鈥渁t the core鈥� of the movement is the belief that 鈥済overnment operates outside of its legal jurisdiction and therefore Freeman members do not recognize the authority of national, provincial, or municipal laws, policies or regulations,鈥� says the report, titled Canada: Biannual Update on Terrorist and Extremist听Threats, which was prepared in April and released under federal access-to-information laws.
鈥淔reeman members now constitute a major policing problem in several provinces and have occasionally engaged in acts of violence against the police,鈥� the report states.
In various videos posted online, supporters of the Freeman movement in Canada 鈥� including outspoken advocate Robert Menard 鈥� reject any association with violent extremism and insist they are 鈥減eaceful and loving.鈥�
Law enforcement officials are not convinced.
A national RCMP spokeswoman said Friday that the force is working with the 91原创 Association of Chiefs of Police to develop materials for front-line officers to increase their awareness and understanding of the Freeman movement and its followers.
鈥淚ndividuals associated to this movement are a concern because some followers advocate violence to promote their views and this may involve violence toward police officers,鈥� Sgt. Julie Gagnon said in an email. 鈥淭here are officer safety concerns when dealing with followers of this movement during routine police interaction.鈥�
Last month, the Anti-Defamation League published a report that described the so-called 鈥渟overeign citizen movement鈥� as 鈥渙ne of the most problematic domestic extremist movements in the United States,鈥� attracting mostly middle-aged or older men who are financially stressed, angry at government regulation or who want 鈥渟omething for nothing.鈥�
The report cited the 2010 shooting deaths of two West Memphis, Ark., police officers during a traffic stop. The suspects, a father and son who were later killed in a shootout with police, belonged to the sovereign citizen movement.
Earlier this year, a Nova Scotia jury convicted a man of uttering a threat to kill police officers and for multiple firearms offences. Court records state that Daren McCormick, a Freeman on the Land follower, told an officer that he could outdraw police and that if a police cruiser ever pulled up in his yard, he鈥檇 kill the officers. When police moved to arrest him the following day, they found him with a loaded .44-calibre revolver in a holster strapped to his hip.
McCormick asserted that the doctrines of Freeman on the Land free him from the Criminal Code, including its gun laws, and that he was free to carry a gun even to go grocery shopping, according to the records. He also claimed his right to travel highways without a licence or registration.
Last year, RCMP officials in B.C. issued a bulletin to officers urging them to be cautious when dealing with suspected Freemen because of their belief in the right to use force in defence of their land, property and family.
The bulletin said some followers may refer to themselves using the phrase 鈥渙f the family,鈥� such as 鈥淛ohn of the Family Smith,鈥� or claim to be a 鈥淪on of God.鈥�
They also may present to officers a document that they believe exempts them from the authority of the police and entitles them to charge fees if they are detained. 鈥淪ubjects make continued use of nonsensical legal/quasi-legal jargon,鈥� the bulletin said.
Some 91原创 judges have expressed frustration with Freemen tying up the court system.
In September, John Rooke, associate chief justice of the Court of Queen鈥檚 Bench in Alberta, issued a scathing ruling against a self-described Freeman, Dennis Larry Meads, for holding up his divorce proceedings by making 鈥渂luntly idiotic鈥� arguments.
At one point, court records state, after the judge informed Meads of the basics of family law proceedings, Meads replied that 鈥渢here are rules above man鈥檚 rules, and God鈥檚 laws is where your laws originated from.鈥�
The judge characterized the 鈥済urus鈥� behind the Freeman on the Land and similar movements as 鈥渘othing more than 鈥渃on men,鈥� who pitch distorted world views on followers through seminars, books, websites and DVDs.
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