It seems like a very long time ago, I was asked to run for Sheriff in an area referred to only as "Freedom County". Linda Hunnicut (aka Granny Warrior) was the person who was asking me to run for office, and at the time I considered her a friend and fellow patriot. The theory, as it was explained to me, was that although the Free State Project was a great idea, it was still too big to make any real progress. The Free State Project is working to bring 20,000 patriots to New Hampshire to promote the principles of smaller government, limited taxes, and widespread appreciation for the exercise of individual rights. I don't believe that it's a secret that I have been a member of the FSP since its inception.

Linda was explaining that the same philosophy, applied to a smaller area, such as a single county, would reduce the level of effort required to allow the idea to expand and flourish. Never wanting to hinder the drive for Liberty, I agreed that if and when such a county organization be established, that I would accept the challenge of running for Sheriff in that county. The news spread so quickly, I began to wonder if people realized that I would have to be chosen in an election, and that their level of enthusiasm - no matter how high - was not an adequate substitute for a legitmate electoral process. Beyond limited thoughts of running for office, I was never actively involved in the Free County project - a fact I now consider very fortunate, indeed.

To make a long story short, I experienced a "medical setback" in December which occupied most of my energy and thought process. I had no contact with Linda or anyone else involved with the Free County project. As I began to wonder what had happened to the project, rumors started to surface that personal differences and general discontent had replaced the feelings of comeraderie reported at the beginning. All of my phone calls and eMail messages to Linda over the course of several weeks remained unanswered. I have now been informed that Linda has disappeared with most of the money that was collected for the purpose of buying the land for the project. To this day I have not heard back from Linda Hunnicut, causing me to believe that at least some of the accusations against her have some basis in fact.

Once again I discover that the trust I had previously placed in someone was not warranted. Although I am embarrassed to have been fooled and suckered again, I consider myself lucky compared to the people who invested what little money they had in the hope of defending themselves against the government. I believe we all need to trust other people in order to survive and flourish. On the other hand, we should be very cautious about which people we choose to trust.

Linda Hunnicut: If you ever read this, you owe me a phone call and a detailed explanation.