Article posted Sep 07 2011, 9:56 AM

Source: InformationLiberation

Man faces life in prison for planned Federal Reserve protest

State deems shooting off fireworks equivalent of manufacturing bomb, despite law specifically saying otherwise
Chris | InformationLiberation

Is 75 years in prison a fair sentence for planning a protest of the Federal Reserve? Those are the charges 27-yr-old Glenn Neff, of Florida is facing over his plan to set off fireworks outside the National Mall to attract attention to his theory the Federal Reserve engineered the financial crisis.

NYPost reports:

WASHINGTON -- Felony charges were filed Tuesday against a Florida man who planned to set off a large quantity of fireworks on the National Mall to protest US banking-industry policies, myFOXdc.com reported.

Authorities detained Glenn Neff, 27, after they spotted him in a red Jeep Cherokee that was parked in an isolated part of the park after closing time Monday, FOX News Channel reported.

The vehicle, which contained fireworks, also was fitted with a turret and multiple tubes from which the explosives were to be deployed.

Neff, a resident of Stuart, Fla., told authorities that he did not want to hurt anyone and was planning to detonate the fireworks to draw attention to himself and issues he had with the banking industry.

Fire and explosives investigators rendered the devices safe at the scene, according to a police statement.

According to myFOXdc.com, three felony charges were filed on Tuesday against Neff, each of which carries a sentence of up to 25 years. Those charges are possession of a destructive device, transport of a destructive device and manufacture of a destructive device.

Neff was also charged with five counts of CDS (controlled dangerous substance) paraphernalia and misdemeanor possession of fireworks, myFOXdc.com said, as well as with the civil charge of use of a park after dark.

Bond has been set at $2 million, the station reported.

According to his Facebook page, Neff attended Stetson University in Florida. He describes his occupation as "Humanity's Last Best Hope for Freedom."

In an "open letter" posted on the site in January, Neff wrote, "I have come to the inescapable conclusion that the bankers at the Federal Reserve engineered this financial crisis on purpose. And ladies and gentlemen, I have figured out how to get rid of the b*stards."

Special attention should be paid to the charges of manufacturing a "destructive device."

The US code specifically exempts "pyrotechnics" (a.k.a fireworks) from it's definition of "destructive device," yet the government is intent on charging him with it anyways.

The term “destructive device” shall not include any device which is neither designed nor redesigned for use as a weapon; any device, although originally designed for use as a weapon, which is redesigned for use as a signaling, pyrotechnic, line throwing, safety, or similar device; surplus ordnance sold, loaned, or given by the Secretary of the Army pursuant to the provisions of section 4684 (2), 4685, or 4686 of title 10; or any other device which the Attorney General finds is not likely to be used as a weapon, is an antique, or is a rifle which the owner intends to use solely for sporting, recreational or cultural purposes.

Why are these petty bureaucrats intent on destroying this man's life? If he was planning to light these fireworks off "in support of the troops," do you think his charges would be the same?