Is not the very advocacy of secession from the United States of America a textbook example of

[Atticus]

Last edited Sun Feb 28, 2021, 12:26 PM - Edit history (1)

"sedition"?

Why are these white supremacists and neo-nazis who are openly seeking to separate their state from the lawful authority and governance of the US not being rounded up and prosecuted? The maximum penalty for sedition is, I believe, 20 years in prison.

We should not just "tread on" these thugs; we should STOMP on them.

[kentuck]

1. We have very weak law enforcement at this time.

Some people are "above the law", contrary to the long-held belief.

[Maxheader]

2. Do a Google on state hate groups..there are many.

I'm all for control on this trash, but it looks to be a delicate

situation.

[Wounded Bear]

4. Or just go to SPLC Hate map...

https://www.splcenter.org/hate-map

[TwilightZone]

3. No.

For it to rise to the level of sedition, it would need to include a conspiracy or attempt to overthrow the government by force. Just pursuing secession without one of those components doesn't fit the definition.

If Texas just voted to secede, for example, it's not sedition. Notwithstanding the facts that there isn't enough support and they can't actually secede.

https://www.texastribune.org/2021/01/29/texas-secession/

If they tried to do it anyway with the use of force against the US government (a pipe dream, of course), then it likely rises to the level of sedition.

[Atticus]

5. I agree with your statement that sedition requires EITHER the use of a conspiracy OR violence in an

attempt to "overthrow the government". It seems to me, though, that coordinated actions and speech intended to THROW OFF the government is the equivalent of a conspiracy to overthrow the government insofar as it governs a particular state.

I do not profess to "know" the nuances of federal statutes and practice as they may impact these yahoos. Just saying thekr conduct walks like sedition and quacks like sedition.

I also agree with your statement that "there isn't enough support and they can't actually secede", but I would start it with "So far,---"

[exboyfil]

6. So what are the rules for secession?

Can you leave with a simple majority vote of the legislators and the governor? So long as you allow any citizens to freely leave your state and work out compensation for any federal assets in the state (I guess an argument could be made that some portion of the deficit should also go with the state).