-Caveat Lector- .............................................................. Forwarded from the New Paradigms Project [Not Necessarily Endorsed]: From: Gary Hunt <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: OutPostofFreedom <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [OPF]Ramsey Electronics - the absurdity of the federal government Date: Sunday, January 02, 2000 9:32 PM From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] High powered model rocketry is also getting the same sort of treatment from the BATF as anything associated with the militias. ---------------- Source: CyberSKIP Digest Posted on 12/30/1999 OUTRAGE!!!! RAMSEY ELECTRONICS RAIDED BY US CUSTOMS STORM TROOPERS It only took 25 years but finally the feds caught on. Ramsey Electronics, previously thought to be a company that sold educational electronic kits to hobbyists, school children, and amateur radio experimenters, was stormed by seven armed US Customs agents armed with a warrant accusing them of selling devices that MIGHT be in violation of US Code Title 18, Section 2512. For the laymen, that means that the stuff they sold to thousands of boy scouts, schools and hobbyists all these years was determined by them to be "primarily designed for surreptitious use", presumably by international espionage organizations and terrorist groups. Especially of interest to the brown shirts were the FM-1 wireless microphone kits that are priced at $5.95. One might assume these sophisticated "high-tech" wireless bugs are the type that would interest the likes of Osama bin Laden, the multi-millionaire terrorist who currently resides in Afghanistan. Also the Canadian/United States border crossing (one of the heaviest traveled in US) is only 7 miles from Buffalo and 75 miles from Victor NY, the home of Ramsey Electronics. Several suspected terrorists have been nabbed at various border crossings recently so one could assume that the terrorists that are spilling over the border are probably making a beeline to Ramsey Electronics to stock up on the latest in spy devices - at a price even the most cash-strapped terrorist could afford. Rumors have it that bin Laden is a little slow paying up on the expense accounts. All humor aside, this is a serious matter in which John Ramsey and his company could face serious Federal charges and prison time. Most surely, the prospect of bankruptcy looms in his mind since he faces outrageous legal bills to defend his good name in the face of the Justice Department and its unlimited resources. The raid commenced on November 10, 1999 at 10:00 AM when 7 armed US Customs agents in three vehicles accompanied by 3 New York State Troopers arrived at the Ramsey business. It's curious that they thought they needed a small army to storm the Ramsey business that resides quite openly and freely accessible in an office park. Everyone and anyone visits the storefront daily; from young children to adults. As John Ramsey says, "it's not like we're in a dingy basement in the inner city surrounded by hit-men and drug labs." Ramsey told CyberSKIP that two of the agents were recognized by a technician as having visited the showroom the previous week ostensibly as customers. They had asked him if some of the devices could be used to bug offices. They tried to persuade the tech to assure them that some of the products could specifically be used for bugging offices and asked if he could tell them how to, "increase the power to go farther." The technician correctly told them that all of the products were for hobbyists. He told them, "If you want something like that, you're in the wrong place." Although the writer is not an authority in the fine points of law, this smacks of entrapment. After casing the business, the two agents returned to Buffalo, a 75 mile, 1-1/2 hour trip, apparently armed with sufficient evidence with which to obtain a warrant for the raid. A week later the raid was executed. Somewhat out of character, the agents stormed the building but without the normally requisite ski masks, blazing weapons and flash bang grenades. They ordered Ramsey to his office and ordered him to "stay there and don't move." The agents said, "If you don't cooperate, we can tie you up forever". He was ordered sit down then they told him that if he didn't cooperate, "we'll shut down your business, send everyone home and we'll bring in computer experts to dissect your computers bit by bit and we don't care if it takes months." It was then that the agents revealed what they came for; the wireless mikes. Ramsey said, "Why didn't you just call me and tell me to stop selling the products in question? We would have stopped selling them immediately if you simply would have asked. That sure would have saved all of us a lot of time, effort and taxpayers money - we'd even pay for the call on the 800 number!" Obviously the agents were in no mood for reasoned dialog. They spread out, searching and seizing all the "surreptitious" devices they could find. In the meantime, another agent was busy with an extensive photo shoot of the premises. After carefully taping a numbered piece of paper to each door he would photograph it, then photograph everything in the room and finally write an extensive report on his photo journey through the premises. By the time he was finished, he had taken five rolls of film. Five hours after the siege began, a van backed up to the loading dock. They started loading products into the van. Ramsey said, "They wouldn't let me see what they were taking, verify counts or even observe what was in the boxes." "You can trust us," one said. When they were finished loading the van, they handed Ramsey a handwritten inventory sheet with no names or signatures on it. The first two items on the list caught his eye. One was a part number that was completely wrong and not a Ramsey number and the second item was an RFS-1 RF switch kit. Ramsey questioned the rationale for confiscating these items and persuaded them to retrieve the items from the van. The first item was a smoke alarm and as for the RF Switch, the crack customs agents said, "OH...ahhh, we probably picked up the wrong box off the shelf - it should have been the PB-1 phone bug kit." In case our readers aren't familiar with the PB-1, it's a $15 kit that transmits in the middle of the FM broadcast band, limited power, and hardly the choice of criminals, terrorists and espionage agents. One would doubt that it is high on the list of the CIA's "must buy" list either. At one point, John Ramsey was asked whether he had any weapons on the premises. Probably much to the horror of the customs agents, he did. Mr. Ramsey had several recently purchased collector rifles that had never been fired. They were in sealed boxes in his office. This was a matter of much concern to the agents and they pondered whether the rifles must be removed from the office and placed temporarily in a vehicle outside the building. Perhaps the agents feared a counter-assault from this respected businessman with a 25-year track record. Although it is not clear why the agents didn't want to confiscate Ramsey's "arsenal" along with all the alleged spy equipment, they finally decided not to pursue the matter. If the PB-1 FM transmitter poses a threat to American security, surely the rifles could be connected to some international arms smuggling conspiracy. When the longest day was finished and the agents disappeared into the sunset with their booty, Ramsey figures they confiscated over $30,000 of his property. The Customs Agents turned over their findings to the US Attorney in Buffalo. It's ironic that Ramsey Electronics worked closely with the FBI labs in Washington DC in tracking down a spy/terrorist who was working at a missile plant in New England and assisted in apprehending an IRA terrorist. Just a few months ago, the company was working with an FBI agent who was on the trail of an Iranian terrorist. John Ramsey is proud of the technical assistance and public service he has unselfishly provided his community and his country. He is very proud of the Certificate of Appreciation hanging on his wall, awarded to him by the Ontario County Sheriff. Currently John Ramsey has a patent application that is under a US military Secrecy Order that will be of inestimable value to the US military. The invention was tested at Nellis Air Force Base and in the words of one Air Force official, "It will save the hide of many a night-flying pilot." Ramsey Electronics has been heralded by the county as one of the "High-Tech", clean companies that our citizens should be proud to have in our back yard. It is beyond the writer's comprehension how Ramsey Electronics, who has contributed so much to the enlightenment and education of youngsters and adults alike, through his inexpensive and simple electronic kits, could incur the wrath of the US Justice Department and their goon squad. Thank God John Ramsey was not brought down in a hail of bullets like some others under suspicion. The big question is whether Radio Shack will be the next target. Those baby monitors can monitor more than babies, Jack. Unlike some devices, Radio Shack isn't obligated to issue a warning before they sell them. They also sell little black boxes that facilitate recording telephone calls. Ask Linda Tripp about them. If I'm not mistaken, Radio Shack sells bugs, er...I mean, miniature microphones and FM transmitters just like the ones confiscated at Ramsey. One wonders how the function of these units differ from the dreaded Ramsey FM-1. Could it be that the feds are reluctant to raid the multitude of Radio Shack warehouses knowing that they might have a few bucks to defend themselves? Besides, it might require more vans than the entire US Customs has at its disposal. If we are to believe that our border crossings leak like a sieve and US Customs is woefully understaffed, one might question the logic of dispatching 7 armed agents, 75-miles to Victor NY, for the better part of one day to conduct a raid on an legitimate business operation. Couldn't those same agents serve a more useful function searching vehicles crossing the border with caches of nitroglycerine and other bomb making material? After all, the border is only 7 minutes from the US Customs office that planned the raid. Perhaps ordinary folk don't understand how the dangers of nitroglycerine and Ramsey FM-1 transmitters equate. Probably in excess of 80% of CyberSKIP Digest readers have been touched in one way or another by Ramsey Electronics. A simple kit from Ramsey probably launched many of the readers into the amateur radio hobby. Unless I'm sadly mistaken and I have made a terrible misjudgment of John Ramsey in the years that I have been acquainted with him and his company, this whole affair is an outrage of the most magnificent proportions. It is also ironic that CyberSKIP is issuing a stern warning this month that it is more important than ever to guard one's privacy on the Internet. The government goons can and will interpret laws as they see fit and tailor charges accordingly. Just as John Ramsey was threatened with the dissection of his computer, so could anyone experience the dissection of theirs. If an individual visits sites the government deems suspect, one might be branded a terrorist, pedophile, militia nut or even (gasp) a hopeless sex addict. Keep that in mind as you browse the Internet. Guilt by association looms large in the mindset of the society we live in these days. In the case of Ramsey Electronics, it appears they are the latest victim of trumped up charges based on some almost ludicrous interpretation of vague laws by an overzealous US Justice Department. FEDS RAID ELECTRONIC HOBBY VENDORS 12/18/99 2600 has learned that several small electronic hobbyist vendors were recently raided by federal agents brandishing semiautomatic weapons. News of these raids has been kept out of the media and many of those involved fear retribution if they openly discuss the case. Until now, these companies had operated for years selling harmless educational electronic kits (like wireless microphones) to students, hobbyists, ham radio operators, and hackers. Now their inventories are being seized at gunpoint--and their owners could be facing bankruptcy and prison time. The U.S. Dept. of Justice is apparently re-interpreting federal wiretapping and smuggling laws to include small hobby radio transmitters. Even possessing so-called "Mr. Microphone" type toys can now put hobbyists at risk of looking down the barrel of a federal agent's loaded gun, a felony conviction, federal prison time, loss of property, and legal fees into the tens of thousands of dollars. Ramsey Electronics and Super Circuits are just two of the companies recently raided at gunpoint. Both have good and longstanding reputations for selling inexpensive, quality educational kits and components to electronics hobbyists for many years through ads in electronic hobby magazines and their websites. A high-ranking Justice Dept. official told one of the business owners the orders for these raids are politically motivated and originated from a very high level in the Clinton administration as a result of the Linda Tripp wiretapping case. "They just need convictions," the official said. Earlier this year the Justice Dept. indicted Bill Cheek, the well-known and loved author of books on radio scanner modifications and Monitoring Times column writer. Bill was selling very simple "data-slicer" circuits (made from parts available at any Radio Shack) that could be used with a PC and a scanner to monitor radio data transmissions--including unencrypted police mobile data terminal (MDT) transmissions. Even after Bill had been diagnosed with terminal cancer, the Federal government refused to back off, even issuing a summons to court on the same day he was to begin chemotherapy. In 1995 2600's BernieS was locked up in five different maximum-security prisons over 14 months by the Secret Service for possessing his laptop computer, his software, and ordinary electronic parts available at Radio Shack. He had been distributing parts, software, books, and pamphlets about cellular and coin telephones. The Justice Department's final investigation report stated "There were no victims in the offense." This is a clear pattern of harassment and abuse of power by our Federal government against people teaching others about electronic communications. It appears our government doesn't want people to know this information. 2600 strongly feels this knowledge is important for people to have, and will continue spreading it at every opportunity. Write and call your legislators to complain about this injustice. You could be next just for the record this is the notice at Ramsey Electronics: * * * * * * * * * * * * * [To lend the credibility which this story might leave in doubt, go to the Ramsey page at http://ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/scstore/Hframeset.htm?E+scstore and follow the link "New Federal Restrictions!" at the left.] -- Gary Hunt, Outpost of Freedom http://www.illusions.com/opf _______________________________________________ OutPostofFreedom mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://illusions.com/mailman/listinfo.cgi/outpostoffreedom Shop for Cars On-Line: http://a-albionic.com/ads/srch.html Forwarded for info and discussion from the New Paradigms Discussion List, not necessarily endorsed by: *********************************** Lloyd Miller, Research Director for A-albionic Research (POB 20273, Ferndale, MI 48220), a ruling class/conspiracy research resource for the entire political-ideological spectrum. 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