Americans are right to have a healthy fear of their state and federal government.
Every year our government gets bigger, more aggressive, and more intrusive.
And the truth is, taxes aren’t the only way the government steals from you.
For years the running joke in America has been, “What are the scariest nine words you can hear?”
The answer of course is, “I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”
Unfortunately, it isn’t really a joke. It’s a sad truth we as Americans face every day.
Normal Americans, just trying to earn a living and provide for their families, are under attack by the alphabet soup that makes up our federal and state governments.
The horror stories are everywhere – farmers facing massive fines and jail time because they filled in a drainage ditch on their property, small business owners sued and run out of business because they don’t meet “current societal norms,” Christians attacked and churches padlocked for preaching the Bible.
We live in scary times.
And truth be told, the cost of all these destructive government policies is paid for by the very people the government attacks – the American taxpayer.
Of course we all know about federal, state, local, sales, real estate, personal property, luxury, death and other taxes.
But what many people don’t know is that several of these onerous, unconstitutional programs are paid for by civil asset forfeiture laws at both the federal and state level.
Just what are civil asset forfeiture laws?
Civil asset forfeiture laws are laws that let authorities, such as federal marshals, IRS agents, state police or local sheriffs, seize property from innocent American citizens if they are even suspected of a crime.
The assets stolen from innocent citizens include cash, houses, cars, boats, RVs, stocks and bonds, even cellphones and family heirlooms.
And don’t think this is any small thing.
The Justice Department estimates that over $28 billion has been seized by the federal government alone – with an untold billions seized by state and local authorities.
And worse, the Justice Department’s Inspector General estimates that only 8% of people who had their assets seized got their money back – even though they were found innocent!
Don’t think this doesn’t affect you. Civil asset forfeiture does not require that a suspect be found guilty or even charged with a crime!
Just suspicion of “crimes” by any law enforcement officer can result in civil asset forfeiture.
And the really scary part is most states and localities have “deals” with the federal government known as “equitable sharing agreements,” making it beneficial for local and state law enforcement to actively try and seize assets, even if there is no real cause to do so.
The good news is activists from all sides of the political spectrum are joining together to fight this unconstitutional theft.
Already states like Iowa, Alabama, and North Dakota have passed legislation severely curtailing civil asset forfeiture programs.
But there is still a long way to go and we must be vigilant in taking back our constitutional rights and stopping the abuse and theft by the government.
What are your state’s civil asset forfeiture laws? Comment below and let us know.