Will Grigg's Liberty Minute

January 3, 2008

When his home was invaded two armed robbers last June, Ohio resident Luther Ricks was able to retrieve his gun and kill one of the assailants before they could make off with his family's life savings.

However, the police succeeded where the street thugs failed, seizing $400,000 from the retired steelworker.

The pretext for this theft was the discovery of a small amount of marijuana in the home. Luther, who has shingles, severe arthritis and joint problems, admits that he uses marijuana for pain management.

He wasn't charged with a crime. Yet the police invoked the principle of asset forfeiture and stole from him every penny he had managed to save. It is now in the hands of the FBI, which insists that the ailing, penniless 63-year-old man has to prove that the money was legally earned.

Violent crime of any kind is a menace, but the most dangerous thieves among us are the ones who wear badges.

Let us take back the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free.