Forgotten in the mists of time is the awful totalitarianism perpetrated on us by the fucking dotgov, whether Federal or state, during The Great WuFlu Insanity. Of course, the legal nonsense — charging, trying and so on — has dragged on and on and persists to this day, but at least there’s been one happy outcome so far:
The co-owner of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey, who fiercely defied tyrannical lockdowns in 2020, has won a monumental victory after a court dismissed all 80 charges against him.
Ian Smith famously reopened his gym in the middle of lockdown, defying Democrat Governor Phil Murphy’s draconian COVID-19 lockdown orders.
At the time, Smith challenged the Murphy administration’s mandates, arguing they were unconstitutional and detrimental to small businesses.
Wait: 80 charges? Even for the People’s Soviet of Noo Joizee, that’s a little much, don’t you think?
Anyway, here’s the story:
A swarm of police officers burst through the door of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey arrested the owners for violating Governor Murphy’s authoritarian shutdown order.
“Well, this was a first,” Dowlen said in a Facebook post. “I stayed the night in the gym writing, my book clients Ian & Frank were just waking up, I’m gathering my computer & notebooks, just waiting for the guys to come out for a few final questions, and then a SWARM of Camden County Sheriffs & local Bellmawr police (with K-9 units waiting in a vehicle) come bursting thru the door….to me, sitting there, writing, by myself.
Surprisingly:
First & foremost, the law enforcement officers were polite & respectful.
Lucky they were only NJ cops, not the Oz Schutzpolizei. But it’s a good thing he didn’t have a gun, though, or else the NJ fuzz would have gone all Canberra on his ass.
Anyway, it got worse; much worse.
The State’s aggressive response did not end with the arrest. In a controversial move, Governor Murphy and his administration seized $165,000 from the gym’s accounts—funds that Smith claims were amassed through donations and apparel sales to support the gym’s legal battles. This act was a punitive strike meant to cripple the gym financially and serve as a stern warning to others who might consider similar defiance.
“Governor Phil Murphy seized 100% of our assets today – $165k, all of which came from donations and apparel sales. This is done in the middle of ongoing litigation defending ourselves against these fines, our 80 charges, the revocation of our business license, and the unconstitutional health department shutdown. This was never about protection, it was always about control.”
However, since he has been acquitted of all the bullshit charges — with prejudice! — Our Hero has not gone humbly off into obscurity. No sir. Instead:
Smith did not mince words, directly challenging Governor Murphy with a phrase that has since gone viral: “Suck my dick Phil Murphy.”
…which is why he’s my kinda guy.
Now, the proper thing to do is to strip the governor naked, paint him with rubbing alcohol, tie a rope to one leg and the other to the hitch and drag his sorry, criminal ass down the street at 20 mph, faster than he can run.
Film the whole thing from multiple angles and stream them to an open source for all to see. After say, 3-4 passes back n forth, you will see governors and others across the fruited plain suddenly become “educated” in what proper behavior looks like.
Or they will quit outright and go into deep hiding.
Either way, the population wins.
A dood can dream can’t he?
So has he received his $ 160 Grand back with interest and penalties and triple damages plus legal fees? Until then he is only Part way back. I’m sure he has no stomach for political office but I sure hope he features prominently in the ads for the next Governor’s race.
^^^THIS^^^
Ab-so-lutely! And Ian and I are of the same mind. It was ALWAYS about control. Run, Ian, run for NJ Gov!
The governor should be held personally accountable for these costs.