To: dartvax!libernet
Subject: Re:  Steve Jackson Games

Craig Haynie writes:
. . .
>How can this be anything but a violation of these amendments. They did have a
>warrant, but their intentions were to disrupt and close the company. No one
                    ^^^^^^^^^^
>has been charged with any crime.

The truly sad thing here is that the government is just incompetent enough
to have done this without the intent to close the company.  They may just have
been looking for information and were unable to do it in any way that didn't
disrupt the company enough to close it.  Without further information, I can't
say they didn't mean to disrupt the company, but I could easily believe they
couldn't figure out any other way to deal with the issue and didn't care
whether SJG went under as a consequence.  I think this sort of indifference
to the rights of individuals and companies is at least as reprehensible as
deliberate disruptive interference.

Unfortunately, they probably can't even be sued for it, but if they could,
any awards to SJG would be made with taxpayers' money.


Bob Lidral (lidral@lpi.UUCP)

==========


To: Libernet
From: Craig Haynie
Subject: Steve Jackson Games
Date: 27 Mar 90 00:05:24

Steve Jackson is a large stockholder in the company that I work for, and a
friend of its founder.

He has called and confirmed that the National Security Service came to his
office and confiscated the BBS and other computer equipment with a warrant.

He as already missed one publishing deadline due to this incident, and he
expects to have to close the company.

No one in the company has been charged with any crime, and no trial is
expected. No one knows when the equipment will be returned, though it is
anticipated that it will not be returned for quite some time.


I think we've all read these amendments to the Constitution that I'm about to
quote:

AMENDMENT IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated,
and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the
persons or things to be seized.

AMENDMENT V

No person shall.... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due
process of law...

How can this be anything but a violation of these amendments. They did have a
warrant, but their intentions were to disrupt and close the company. No one
has been charged with any crime.

Craig (Houston)


--- msged 1.99S ZTC
 * Origin: Liberty Houston (713) 785-4763  (1:106/1776)


To: dartvax!libernet
Subject: Re: Steve Jackson Games

I hope Steve Jackson Games can use the FBI bust for advertizing, for
example, "Gurps Cyberpunk, the game so real the government couldn't
tell it from the real thing."  I don't buy role playing games, but I
want a copy of *this* one.  Keith Henson


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