Ohio authorities stormed a farm house in LaGange Monday, December 1, to execute a search warrant, holding the Jacqueline and John Stowers and their son and young grandchildren at gunpoint for nine hours. During the raid the Ohio Department of Agriculture and police confiscated over ten thousand dollars worth of food, computers and cell phones. The Stowers’ crime? They run a private, members-only food co-op. While state authorities were looking for evidence of illegal activities, the family was not informed what crime they were suspected of, they were not read their rights or allowed to make a phone call. The children, some as young as toddlers, were traumatized by armed officers interrogating the adults with guns drawn.
The Morning Journal, a newspaper serving northern Ohio, reported that the Stowers were believed to be operating without a license. However, the Stowers claim that the food co-op they run does not engage in any activities that would require state licensing. Friends of the Stowers openly question why such aggressive tactics were necessary to investigate a licensing complaint. The Ohio Department of Agriculture has apparently been chastised by the courts in previous cases for over-reach, including entrapment of an Amish man to sell raw milk, which backfired, when it became known that the man gave milk instead of selling it to a state undercover agent, refusing to take money for what he believed to be a charitable act. The Amish literally interpret the Gospel of Matthew (5:42) to “give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.”
This is all about the government not getting their “cut”, kinda like the mob thugs who shake down the liquor store owner on the corner. What is happening to our country?
What make any of you Obamabots think that your patron saint Obama will actually restore any of the rights you “claim” have been done away with by Bush?
It’s in his benefit and the other Demon-craps to keep it just as is, so they can shove their nanny-state agenda down your throats through your already gapping mouths.
This stuff competes with the melamine-contaminated chinese food the big companies import, we can’t have that!
“FEEL MY MONSANTO, BITCHES!”
#28, nonStupendous,
I could care less what silly laws are on the books. It does not make it right none the less.
That is where you err. That is the law and this farm broke the law. They refused to allow the inspectors access to the operation to verify whether or not they needed a license. The law says ALL FOOD SELLERS, not just SOME. There is no removing yourself from society and only accepting the laws you like. Shoot, if you disagree with the law then get your elected representative to change it. But you always ignore the law at your own peril.
Guilty until proven innocent with draconian asset forfeiture laws.
Standard procedure when someone is caught with contraband. BTW, if the food had inspection labels then it wouldn’t have been contraband. It would have been the same if they had been brewing their own ‘shine.
If someone is worried about food quality it’s up to the buyer to demand proper private inspection certifcation papers etc.
Sorry, wrong again.
We tasked that job to the government because few of us know the nuances of food production to truly verify that some place is sanitary and is selling healthy food. It has been repeatedly shown that private inspections are not as good as independent, government inspections.
Get a life. Complaining about things does nothing. Run for office. Write your elected representatives. Get the laws changed. Staying at home, not voting, and ignoring the laws of the land is not the answer.
#32, ama ama ding dong,
So how the heck does the Ohio department of Agriculture decide to investigate something like this in the first place?
Probably because of the sign at the end of the driveway saying they were not inspected.
People are more aware than ever of the modern methods of agriculture.
Yes they are. They are also aware of the various diseases that food can carry.
Is it a coincidence that Monsanto has some big offices of their global seed group in Ohio? I think not!
Most likely it is coincidence. If this farm had of been in any State I am aware of, they would have been outside the law.
Another example of the true power in America
How so? Because some little pseudo co-op decides they are above the law it is Monsanto’s fault.
Jesus H. Christ on a pogo stick, you people are truly fucked up.
#38, Uncle,
You are right. There had been the local rag with a story but apparently it is no longer available.
There story did not have the “storm troopers” or Swat Team. It had been just Agriculture Inspectors backed up by police. The story also mentioned that the local Health Department had tried to previously inspect the store and had been ordered off of the property.
Looking at most of the google hits, they are all the same story on similar type of conspiracy sites.
#37 Hey Mr. Fusion, do you know any farmers? Have you ever met one? How many pie holes do you have to fill? What do you know about Monsanto? I guess anything that smells like a conspiracy theory to you goes straight to the nutcase files. Better living through technology, right? If you can’t trust your government, who can you trust? Is that it? It’s ok, I respect your opinion and your choice. Hopefully you’re right. Just in case I’ll continue to spend a little more, and buy organic.
#40, ama ama ding dong,
Hey Mr. Fusion, do you know any farmers?
Several. This is a farming community.
How many pie holes do you have to fill?
It appears just yours.
What do you know about Monsanto?
A little. It is a huge agibusiness company. They patent much of their seed and there is quite the discussion (but not here) about genetically altered foods.
I guess anything that smells like a conspiracy theory to you goes straight to the nutcase files.
Only when the evidence doesn’t match up. As in this case. People that believe right off the bat are usually gullible and naive.
Better living through technology, right?
Yup. My computer is faster and better than what I had 10 years ago. The same can be said for my car, TV, cell phone, …
It’s ok, I respect your opinion and your choice.
No you won’t. Because you want to believe this is a conspiracy led by Monsanto instead of just a couple of dissidents who don’t want to follow some government laws.
Last I checked the Law of the Land was the Constitution and the Constitution clearly doesn’t call for food inspections and licensing by government (which are largely just attempts by big business to secure monopolies by themselves by stamping out small business).