By FITSNews || Over the years, we’ve had plenty of fun at the expense of South Carolina’s bass-ackwards state government. With its dumb ass laws (and even dumber ass lawmakers), is it really any wonder that the Palmetto State perpetually ranks first in everything bad and last in everything good? Or that half of our citizens can’t walk and chew gum simultaneously?
Of course not. When you put fools in charge of the ship, don’t be surprised when you end up with a ship of fools.
Anyway, in the long and storied history of utterly retarded legislation in South Carolina, we may have finally found the legal statute that takes the cake for sheer stupidity, which we think you’ll agree is saying something.
It’s called the “Subversive Activities Registration Act,” and it requires terrorists in South Carolina to … get this … register with the S.C. Secretary of State’s office before they start plotting to violently overthrow the government.
From the law:
Every member of a subversive organization, or an organization subject to foreign control, every foreign agent and every person who advocates, teaches, advises or practices the duty, necessity or propriety of controlling, conducting, seizing or overthrowing the government of the United States, of this State or of any political subdivision thereof by force or violence or other unlawful means, who resides, transacts any business or attempts to influence political action in this State, shall register with the Secretary of State on the forms and at the times prescribed by him.
Amazingly, there’s even a friggin’ form to fill out, people – with a $5.00 processing fee.
Oh, and God forbid you fail to register before you start planning your jihad, because that’s punishable by a $25,000 fine and/ or up to ten years imprisonment.
Bureaucracy for terrorists. It’s almost as stupid as justice for terrorists.
Of course, if there’s something criminal about wanting to overthrow the morons running this state, then lock us up and throw away the key …
WEB EXTRA
S.C. Subversive Agent Form
By Mike at the Beach February 4, 2010 at 6:54 am
Come on, man… It’s just another silly little way to mess with bad guys’ heads after they’re snagged up, very similar to the tax stamps Department of Revenue requires on every gram or dose of illegal dope sold in the state (§12-21-5010, The Marijuana and Controlled Substance Tax Act). If our elected assclowns in Cola couldn’t pass silly laws, what would they do up there for six months?
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1876&dat=19981006&id=dlMgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=w88EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6756,1149951
By Rick February 4, 2010 at 6:54 am
Kinda like criminals registering their guns or abiding by gun laws.
By justsaynotojoe February 4, 2010 at 7:13 am
So, I wonder if PETA has registered or BIN?
By Genomic Repairman February 4, 2010 at 9:55 am
What fucknut state congressman initiated this piece of bat-shit crazy legislation?
By Defender of the US Contitution February 4, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Back woods boys from the farm country with no real common sense. The General Assmembly is full of them and they steal from us all. Oh they might have gone to school and acquired an education, but their heads are clearly up their rears. The wording says it all. And the US Constitution and the Bill of Rights are clear. They have set themselves up once again at tax payers expense. They know the public is at a boiling point with them all so they are trying to intimidate voters. But it will never work. People are not that afraid of the law when the law is corrupt and twisted as it is here in SC. The people out number and are more powerful than they pissants in government.
Let the national talk show host get wind of this and watch them make us all look like morons.
By newzjunkie February 4, 2010 at 4:40 pm
Please say this is a federal requirement because if not, all of those buffoons need to be ousted! WE NEED JOBS!!!!
By beentook2 February 4, 2010 at 5:12 pm
It is apparent that all elected officials are engaged in “attempts to influence political action in this State” and are terrorists by definition. Therefore the taxpayers should get a windfall when all of them are fined $25,000. I would be willing to forgo the fine if all of the cockroaches are imprisoned for 10 years as the law requires.
If there is a honest attorney, I know that is like saying military intelligence, out there who will file the necessary paperwork I would be willing to be sign off as the plaintiff.
By southernmapart February 4, 2010 at 7:32 pm
Similar to the anti-gang legislation enacted several years ago. I read the legislators description of “gang” and the description of “gang activities” which exactly matched our County Council and the things the Council was doing.
Reading further, the legislation exempted all government officials, doing government business, from prosecution under the anti-gang act.
At least our legislators recognized that the local council councils are gangs of criminals.
By Rebel February 5, 2010 at 6:53 am
Will the Jamaat Al Fuqra terrorist compound in York County register?
By Isheet M'Drawirs February 5, 2010 at 1:14 pm
Wow only $5 to register…. why not $5 billion? Let’s solve some budget issues while we’re writing asinine laws. Who’s in charge here?
By gary February 5, 2010 at 6:20 pm
I am the first to jump on ignorant Jim Crow states’ wierd legislation but I have to say that this law makes some sense in two ways:
1 this is really aimed at home grown hate groups which are, unfortunately, still popular in the south
2 some hate group or terrorist activity might not reach the level at which a Federal prosecutor would be willing to lay a charge (usually a high standard of proof)but may well meet the standard of the State law.
My guess is that a lot of progressive people supported the legislation for those reasons.
Of course, no one would be dumb enough to think that a real terrorist would register with the State.
By RedKnight February 5, 2010 at 11:43 pm
OK! I (probably not unlike yourself) have finally stopped laughing.
I keep waiting for the punchline… I’m still waiting
As I pondered the idiocy of this it occurred to me that this thing really does have teeth. In fact this may be the most detrimental action ever taken against the “protest movement”.
I hope it is a given that no one in their right mind would register themselves as a subversive – I hope I can say that.
What happens now when a local patriot group shows up and conducts a tea party at the local court house and Law Enforcement comes in and starts checking “subversive registration files” and you being smart enough to not turn over your 5th amendment right to not self-incriminate, you are approached by said Law enforcement and they say I’m sorry sir or ma’am I’m afraid you have failed to register under the subversive registration act and your involvement in this action is in violation. I am now placing you under arrest.
After you stop rolling around on the floor LYAO and the smoke finally settles you may like to take a more objective look at this legislation and its potential effects on our already dwindling civil liberties.
By Swampfox February 6, 2010 at 6:31 am
I certainly hope that the South Carolina version of AIPAC (American Israeli Political Action Committee), and the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Anti-Defamation League, all of whom are in league to overthrow our way of life, are required to register.
By SnakeMD February 7, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Hi Gary. Your quote about hate groups in the South…
Please check this out: http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/hatemap
The South does not corner the market on Hate Groups anymore. Those old demographics were directly determined by the mule populations in each state. Here in SC our mule population is on the decline. I think RedKnight might have hit the nail on the head. Nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to government regulation. It is no longer black or white, but red or blue.
By dirtbogger February 8, 2010 at 1:10 pm
David Rockafeller had better not come to South Carolina then or any of the Jewish lobby because they could get arrested!
By BOB February 8, 2010 at 6:11 pm
http://www.infowars.com/think-government-is-corrupt-you-may-face-10-years-in-jail/
By G-man February 9, 2010 at 9:47 am
People
Get a grip on reality. This is simply another tool in the toolbox for prosecution. Think about how difficult it is to prosecute a terrorist BEFORE they commit the act. A bunch of ragheads in Germany talking about flying a plane into the world trade center and practicing on MS Flight Sim is not a crime. Or is it? Taking flying lessons and only practicing takeoffs but not landings is not a crime. or is it? But being here in Sc and being connected via an email string or bank wires to a known terrorist organization now IS a crime. This is one of those “gotcha” laws. We have plenty of people behind bars that commited crimes and were jailed for things like felony possession of a firearm, or voluntary non-payment of taxes (Capone?).
So get a life.
By AGerman February 9, 2010 at 9:53 am
If you think South Carolina is something very special and atypical, you might want to have a look at the stupid forms from the federal government that, as a German tourist, I have to fill out whenever I enter the US via airplane.
I esepcially like question 11c on form 6059B: “Are you bringing with you: disease agents, cell cultures, or snails?”
The greatest joke, however, is question B on form I94-W: “are you seeking entry to engage in criminal activities?”
By CatoTheCensor February 9, 2010 at 2:17 pm
This is the funniest thing since the STEP Act. Which, come to think of it, was also the brainchild of a South Carolina legislator.
By Rob February 9, 2010 at 4:50 pm
I agree w/ G-man; this is most likely a ‘gotcha’ law. However, I certainly don’t agree with his optimistic take on it. To me, it’s a bit scary that our law can be so ambigious it can be molded to ‘get that guy who needs gettin’. Who’s determining who needs to be in jail?
This is not an honest way to apply the law. It give much too much power into the hands of too few who (like our congress) have proven time and time again (theagitator.com for example) they can’t be totally trusted.
While its true most LEO’s can be trusted most of the time, that kind of unchecked power is going to corrupt. History demonstrates that happens every time, dispite promises of restraint or claims they’re doing it for our benefit. Legislation that forces people to register with the state based upon their speech is not a good way to run the Land of the Free, nor the Home of the Brave.
(“voluntary taxes” – thats a good one!)
By Scott February 9, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Hey folks, this may be stupid, but it is OLD stupid. Take a look at the SC government archives and you will see that this particular act is not new. It has been on the books for many years. In fact a bill was brought up in 1996 to repeal the act, but apparently never go out of committee (http://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess111_1995-1996/bills/25.htm). Per usual, it appears someone has stumbled upon this archaic law and decided to drum up a controversy.
By Theodore Kasczynski February 9, 2010 at 8:05 pm
I think this is a wonderful law AND a wonderful form.
First, the law, and its sloppy use of commas:
“Every member of a subversive organization, or an organization subject to foreign control, [...] who resides, transacts any business or attempts to influence political action in this State, shall register with the Secretary of State on the forms and at the times prescribed by him.”
If you go look carefully at the way this is laid it, it appears to me that any foreign company needs to register as an ‘organization subject to foreign control.’ Because the law stipulates that with no modification.
That means that the BMW folks need to register.
Is it worth five bucks to anyone to register for them? Maybe add some new language to their corporate charter discussing lebensraum and the new Panzer assembly line? If so – hey, you’ve got access to the form….
I’m Ted Kasczynski and I approve this message.
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By Nontroversy February 10, 2010 at 11:47 pm
Congratulations tards, you found a law from 1951 and thought it was something new.
Almost all of you need to ban yourselves from the internet for your gullibility.
By ECW February 10, 2010 at 11:47 pm
This law, and ones like it, have/has been on the books for years. This one in SC since the early 50′s. Apparently it was a pre-emptive reference to active communists who outwardly stated in literature that their goal was to “overturn” America. So, the response from South Carolina was to put in literature “no, you won’t “overturn” America”.
It’s an old law. Just saying.
If it is being portrayed as a law – post 9/11 – that is just being disingenuous. In fact, you might as well make the same mockery of the Pledge of Allegiance. Surely every single hater of America in the world could recite it, while standing atop Mt. Rushmore, waving an American flag. Doesn’t mean those haters mean it. I know its forever fun to joke about the south. But is that strategy really working? Constantly condesceding towards people who actually have jobs, families, mortgages, property, work ethic, and, at least to them, a sense of what the individualist spirit of America is all about? Put it another way – could any state in the blue Northeast field a college football team that wouldn’t get its ass kicked in the SEC? :)
By Johnathan January 15, 2012 at 9:01 am
I love you.
By Mac February 11, 2010 at 5:21 am
As Scott pointed out, it’s an OLD law. Back in the early 50′s, remember there was a communist scare going around. It’s from 1951.
As typical, it’s gone viral without understanding the intent and age of the law.
By headhunt23 February 11, 2010 at 9:36 am
As pointed out above, anyone who believes this (and circulates it, is a moron.
THis bill was written in 1951 and the target was Communist groups which used ot have the overthrow – violent or otherwise – of the US government explicitly in their party platforms.
Maybe the $5 registration fee should have tipped you off this wasn’t passed recently?
By EM February 11, 2010 at 9:53 am
Mo Lane is talking about this http://moelane.com/2010/02/11/it-seems-the-act-of-research-is-a-subversive-activity-requiring-registration-rsrh/ among others like: http://ace.mu.nu/archives/298135.php
Seems the looney left can’t get it right … pun intended.
By GreenReaper February 11, 2010 at 10:27 am
In fairness, they also make you pay for the stamp on the self-addressed envelope. That’s inflation-linked.
By slug February 11, 2010 at 10:35 am
Congratulations, Wingnuts. Another fine job of journalism. Now that it’s gone viral, you’re only hope to retain any credibility is to close your eyes and wish it to the cornfield.
By david denny February 11, 2010 at 5:44 pm
bring it on gov
By Larry February 12, 2010 at 5:22 pm
Well, heck. All the politicians in S.C. have the avowed desire to “control” the government – otherwise they wouldn’t be politicians.
Have they all registered?
And if not, why not go arrest them all? THAT would be lots’o'fun!!!!!
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