Pentagon Shooter Worshipped Private Property Rights, Denounced Government 'Schemes' Like Public Education

[one...two...tree 2,762]

by Zachary Roth

The California man who opened fire last night outside the Pentagon was a property rights extremist who railed against the government's ability to "confiscate the resources of their citizens to fund schemes that need only be justified by lies and deception," and wanted to "eliminate the role of the government in education."

In a recorded manifesto called "Directions To Freedom", the audio of which he posted online in 2006, John Patrick Bedell, of Hollister, California, praised private property as "the most successful basis for structuring society that humanity has ever known."

Bedell shot two police officers last night during the rampage, before being mortally wounded himself.

"Communist and socialist governments that abolished or disregarded private property," said Bedell in the recording, "created poverty, repression and murder on a truly enormous scale." But, he continued, "Even in the United States, however, there has been a continual erosion of protection of private property justified by the belief that government is an efficient instrument for the positive direction of society."

Bedell added: "Governments lack the profit and loss incentives that individuals and private organizations must use..."

And he warned: "When governments are able to confiscate the resources of their citizens to fund schemes that need only be justified by lies and deception enormous disasters can result."

Bedell also denounced the monetary system, a frequent bete noir of anti-government extremists. "When the government can control how private property is used," he said, "and especially when the government controls the monetary system that is use to exchange private property, the government has the mechanisms and the motivation to control individuals to the smallest detail."

Bedell even railed against the concept of public education. "Government control of the schools that shape minds is pervasive in today's world," he said. "The imperative to defend the freedom of conscience must lead us to eliminate the role of the government in education and leave parents and communities free to raise their children as they see fit." He denounced public education as "no more legitimate than a government-run church for universal religious training."

As several other outlets have already reported, Bedell also wrote online postings that expressed skepticism about the official explanation for the 9/11 attacks. He wrote that he was "determined to see that justice is served" in the death of James Sabow -- a US Marine whose 1991 death was ruled a suicide but whose case has long been the source of cover-up theories, according to Fox News -- and that justice in the Sabow case would be "a step toward establishing the truth of events such as the September 11 demolitions."

Bedell also denounced the government's enforcement of marijuana laws.

Bedell's attack occurred last night at the subway entrance to the Pentagon. "He just reached in his pocket, pulled out a gun and started shooting" the Pentagon's chief of police told reporters. "He walked up very cool. He had no real emotion on his face."

The Pentagon officers returned fire with automatic weapons, mortally wounding Bedell.

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[Ali G. 37]

This guys sounds a hell of a lot like those with libertarian views..

They basically want zero government intervention so that they can freely carry out their insane plans.

Edited March 5, 2010 by Booyah

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Small government freak? Hey, I'm glad he's dead.

[Ali G. 37]

Small government freak? Hey, I'm glad he's dead.

Listen to his anti-government rant. Clowns like this guy is why we must have a strong civilized government, to prevent loonies like himself from inflicting harm on others.

To be honest, this guy is no different from Al Qaeda. Furthermore, I find that while the libertarian movement might be the opposite to communism or dictatorship, it's as equally destructive to a society and its people. The libertarian movement needs to seriously be monitored..

Edited March 5, 2010 by Booyah

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The libertarian movement needs to seriously be monitored..

Yup.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I'm sure he considered himself a great patriot. And I'm just as sure that he'll be celebrated as such in certain circles. God Bless Help America.

Edited March 5, 2010 by Mr. Big Dog

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Bedell also denounced the government's enforcement of marijuana laws.

That would certainly explain his psychosis.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Parents of Pentagon Shooter Reportedly Warned Authorities About Him

A law enforcement official says the parents of the man who opened fire in front of the Pentagon warned authorities their son was upset and might have a gun.

San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill told the AP the parents of John Patrick Bedell filed a missing persons report and were worried about his mental stability. After reading an e-mail from their son to an acquaintance, the parents told deputies they were worried that he had purchased a gun.

The parents had reported Bedell missing on Jan. 4, one day after a Texas Highway Patrol officer had stopped him for speeding and was told he was heading for the East Coast.

The 36-year-old Bedell returned to his parent's home on January 18 telling them "not to ask any questions" about where he had been.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,588074,00.html

[Kevin and 10]

The libertarian movement needs to seriously be monitored..

Who are we to criticize and question the roll of government. Everyone need to be monitored for anti-government views. We need Big Brother and secret police spying on people now, so tragedies like this never happen again. Thank god we have the Patriot Act.

[Peikko 1,575]

In a country that has universal suffrage, is this really the right way to complain about the roll of government?

Aside from the fact that the shooter obviously suffered from some kind of mental breakdown, brought on by who knows what?

[Ali G. 37]

Who are we to criticize and question the roll of government. Everyone need to be monitored for anti-government views. We need Big Brother and secret police spying on people now, so tragedies like this never happen again. Thank god we have the Patriot Act.

All good and well until this becomes a problem, as it historical has for the US. There is a reason why you don't hear of similar lunacy in any other first world country. The country seems to have a dark history built on folks assuming they have a right to kill others, unless they get their way.

While the rest of the world is moving forward, we are just producing more and more idiots daily. Idiots who beat on about the constitution and this anti-government rhetoric. As I have said many time before, the biggest irony is that the most successful nations in 2010 are nations that have a proactive government. Furthermore, a government involved in improving the living standard and quality of life of the people it represents. Basically, the furthest thing from what many of these anti-government claim to be the ideal model of a society.

Edited March 5, 2010 by Booyah

[Ali G. 37]

Who are we to criticize and question the roll of government. Everyone need to be monitored for anti-government views. We need Big Brother and secret police spying on people now, so tragedies like this never happen again. Thank god we have the Patriot Act.

PS Law enforcement does need the patriot act to find out about people. All they need to do is ask their foreign partners to do so, who are not bound by any US legislation or Constitution. The same way the US government can unofficially spy on Brits, the British government can unofficially spy on Americans.

Edited March 5, 2010 by Booyah

[alienlovechild 75]

Listen to his anti-government rant. Clowns like this guy is why we must have a strong civilized government, to prevent loonies like himself from inflicting harm on others.

To be honest, this guy is no different from Al Qaeda. Furthermore, I find that while the libertarian movement might be the opposite to communism or dictatorship, it's as equally destructive to a society and its people. The libertarian movement needs to seriously be monitored..

The guy had a history of mental illness so his politics could have been rooted anywhere on the political spectrum. He was big fan of marijuana and 9/11 conspiracies so he'd right in with a lot of Bush haters.

The mentally ill shouldn't be allowed to buy guns anyway.

HOLLISTER, Calif. — The man who opened fire in front of the Pentagon had a history of mental illness and had become so erratic that his parents reached out to local authorities weeks ago and warned them that their son was unstable and might have a gun, authorities said Friday.

But a blog connected to Bedell via the social networking site LinkedIn outlines his growing distrust of the federal government and gives credence to the idea that a criminal enterprise run out of the government could have staged the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill told The Associated Press that Bedell, 36, had been at in-patient mental health institutions at least four times. Court records showed he was diagnosed as bipolar, or manic depressive.

Hill also said Bedell's parents found an e-mail from their son that indicated he had purchased a gun. They asked Hill to help them find Bedell and get him help.

Investigators were still trying to determine a motive for the brazen shooting and began trying to unravel a bizarre series of Internet postings that suggested Bedell was fascinated with conspiracy theories, computer programming, libertarian economics and the science of warfare.

Curiously, Bedell also proposed in 2004 that the Pentagon fund his own research on smart weapons. The 28-page proposal outlined his idea for DNA nanotechnology research that might "provide significant new capabilities for the Department of Defense and the individual warfighter."

Washoe County Sheriff Mike Haley said Bedell was arrested in Reno on Feb. 1 after a deputy stopped him in a green Toyota sedan on the south end of town and found 2 ounces of marijuana but no weapons.

Haley told reporters in Reno on Friday that Bedell believed "the currency of the United States should be marijuana."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,588074,00.html

He was big fan of marijuana and 9/11 conspiracies

[Peikko 1,575]

Would it not be a good idea to provide those who have mental health problems with good mental health care? It's not like they can normally hold down jobs and care for themselves.

And no, people with severe mental health issues should not be able to purchase and keep guns in their homes or on their person.

Edited March 5, 2010 by Madame Cleo

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Would it not be a good idea to provide those who have mental health problems with good mental health care? It's not like they can normally hold down jobs and care for themselves.

And no, people with severe mental health issues should not be able to purchase and keep guns in their homes or on their person.

Criminals should not be able to purchase and keeps guns in their homes or on their persons either, but they somehow manage to. Because they are criminals, or insane. Take your pick.