March 6, 2004
As most of you are aware, 2nd Sub. SB 175 was passed by the Legislature
on Wednesday following concurrence by the Senate with House Amendments.
This bill effectively repeals Initiative B, passed by 69% of Utah's
voters in November 2000.
If 2nd Sub. SB 175 goes into law, Utah's police will have both the
method and motive to cause your property to be forfeited under unjust
federal confiscation statutes. These statutes presume that property
owners are guilty, and do not provide attorneys fees and other costs in
the unlikely event an owner can prove his innocence.
Even if a forfeiture were to be pursued under the state-level
procedures, numerous due process safeguards have been eliminated by 2nd
Sub. SB 175. As with forfeitures that are performed federally, the
police will be able to profit from the proceeds.
Because the majority of the Legislature has so contemptuously destroyed
protection for your right to own property, a referendum will be filed on
Monday with the Lt. Governor's office to put 2nd Sub. SB 175 to a vote
of the people in November. If we acquire the requisite number of
signatures, the bill will never go into effect unless approved by the
voters of Utah.
There is a very limited timeframe to acquire signatures (40 days
starting on March 4). Though this is a daunting task, I believe that it
is possible to be successful.
I would like for all recipients of this message who are willing to
assist with this critically important campaign to respond to me
privately at
ajgaunt@xmission.com. Please let me know who your state
Senator and Representative are, and the county in which you reside. I
look forward to hearing from you.
Arnold Gaunt
801-621-3122