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