Freedom Lawyers of America

National Socialism (fascism) gave the government the power to determine what should be made, sold or purchased. This is at the root of it.


http://www.cannabisculture.com/articles/2773.html

Bong makers busted
by Dana Larsen and Ed Rosenthal (20 Jan, 2003)

America's Paraphernalia industry under attack, Chills
founder sentenced to 14 months in prison.

Chris Hill, founder and owner of Florida company
Chills, was sentenced to prison in August after
accepting a plea bargain for various charges related
to distributing drug paraphernalia.

Until his bust, Hill's Chills was a small-business
success story. Founded in 1993, the pipe and tobacco
accessory distributor expanded quickly, getting
mentioned in Inc magazine as one of America's 500
fastest-growing companies. Hill was chosen in 2001 as
one of America's top 500 young businessmen by the
National Republican Congressional Committee, and was
in the running for Republican Businessman of the Year.

In August 2001, DEA agents seized Chills pipes from
three Iowa tobacco shops. Iowa has a well-earned
reputation of strictly enforcing federal paraphernalia
laws, and the agents found Chills pipes in stores
which had pro-marijuana posters and books. Federal
agents then travelled to Florida to raid Hill's home
and business, bearing a warrant issued in Des Moines,
Iowa. Hill was handcuffed in front of his two infant
daughters and his home and vehicles were seized.

The prosecuting US Attorney cited Chills' logo, which
features a space alien with the words "World
Domination," as evidence of a criminal conspiracy to
take over the world. Hill responded that the
prosecutors had been watching too many James Bond
movies. "Maybe I should get a little white cat and
shave my head," joked Hill. "Next time, Mr Bond!"

But there won't be a next time for Chris Hill. Facing
a potential 20 year sentence, in August 2002 Hill
accepted a plea bargain, agreeing to 14 months in a
minimum security prison camp at Elin Air Force Base in
Florida, plus five years probation. Hill also suffered
a $500,000 fine, along with the loss of his warehouse
building and manufacturing equipment.

Chills remains in business, although they have stopped
selling pipes and have limited their product line to
rolling papers and smoking accessories only. Hill has
also stated that he might have to file for bankruptcy
from prison.

Chills isn't the only pipe-maker to get busted by
federal agents. In September 2001, Barmes Wholesalers
in Indiana was raided, and large parts of its
inventory seized. The action against Barmes was
launched by a District Attorney in Pennsylvania, after
Barmes pipes were found during a raid on a local hemp
store.

Under federal US law, merely making, distributing, or
selling non-traditional pipes is enough evidence to be
found guilty of paraphernalia offences.

Chills: www.chills.com