YOUR COMMENTS

The Browns were not Freestaters.
- grassi, hook

Eric in South Bend, your ignorance of longstanding laws is astounding. For many decades, ownership and purchase of dynamite has required a special license, as well as a verifiable need to own it. And you can NOT produce an explosive of any kind from "common household goods", or you've produced a Destructive Device by BATFE rules and federal law, and are guilty of a felony. Do it and you rightly go to federal prison, period. Look up the laws, Eric, they go back half a century in most cases...they're not new!
- Josh Dupont, Manchester

Eric in South Bend:

I find myself wondering why anyone would want,or need, to make an explosive. Fireworks are one thing, but IED's are not fireworks. Also, given that the Browns were already convicted felons, they forfeited their legal rights to own firearms, and I'm certain that would also include home-made explosives. What you've lost sight of is intent. What was the Browns intent with regard to these explosives? I don't believe they were intended for a 4th of July celebration. You're incorrect that these explosive never left the house. Their property is apparently ringed with them from the accounts of the capture. I don't consider making an IED to be a constitutional right, but if it were, I would give that right up without hesitation. There is simply nothing constructive in someone making and possessing explosives of this manner. There is no rational reason for this type of behavior under any circumstances short of an all out war. Lastly, the Browns do not deserve a pardon from anyone. They're getting precisely what they deserve as small time petty criminals and cheats: jail time. This entire episode from the Browns is a self-fulfilling destiny. His affiliations with extreme right wing militia type groups is certainly proof of that. I'm sure he has enjoyed the notoriety from the last 9 months. He has probably looked forward to this exact situation for some time. I think it's a good thing that they'll both have 5 years to reflect on the last year. Maybe they'll both wake up.
- Ed, Bennington, NH

To Josh DuPont,
Do you really believe what you're saying? They made explosives out of materials that, as far as we know are probably legal household items. These explosives never left their house and we don't know if they were ever used or how powerful the explosives were. But we do know that explosives, such as dynamite, have numerous valuable and ethical applications. You're probably right that in our day and age of lost freedoms there's probably some law against doing this on one's own private property. But do you honestly think that's a good law?

If our President believed in his oath to uphold the Constitution he would pardon these people.
- Eric, South Bend

Anyone who thinks the Browns were terrorist needs to pull their pants up because they are showing their back sides. Terrorism is by its very nature an offensive strategy. If you have been reading about the Brown situation it is very clear it was always a defensive strategy. Who was afraid of their defensive posture other than the chicken littles of the world. Was there anyone in Plainfield or its surrounding towns who honestly thought the Browns were going on the offensive and murder all government supporters? Please instutionalize anyone who answers yes because these are some bonafide crackpots. The Browns rolled the dice and now they will more than likely spend the rest of their lives in prison. I don't support what they did but I hope this issue does make everyone realize the ever growing tax burden being placed on the shoulders of those of us who are dumb enough to go to work everyday and loyally pay their taxes. Do you really think you have taxation with representation? Does government listen? They aren't hearing me because my taxes keep going up while I keep asking for them to go down? Why doesn't the government at all levels have to live on a budget just like all of us working stiffs? We can't just spend others people money when we want to. Think about that while you are writing silly blogs but never putting forth any constructive ideas on how to lower the tax burden. We are already paying 30 something percent and when Hillary's Socilist health care bill comes due we are really in trouble. Law enforcement handled this one right and deserve kudos for a job well done. Regarless of what many of you crackpots thought the Marshal Service knew the only people in danger from the Browns was them.
- Randal S. Ripley, Manchester, NH

This would make a great South Park episode!!
- GR Chase, Exeter, NH

In spite of the Brown's posturing as freedom fighters expressing their unyeilding adherence to their principles. What they really are is what they are known as by anyone who has ever tried to collect on a bill they owed, small time chiselers with a grandiose view of themselves !

This whole affair has been a farce that has cost taxpayers dearly and been totally misread and overblown by the media.
- Tom Hadley, Madbury

Janet Reno must be spinning in her grave...oh wait, she isn't dead. But plenty of other people are dead because of dear old Janet.
- Tim, Salem NH

Good riddance, enjoy maximum security Mr & Mrs Bomber-maker! Now, how about the Union Leader sparing us ongoing coverage of the ripple effects of this? We are sick of the phony liberty/rights cultists, they are an embarrassment to NH and make us look like ignorant hicks. They aren't so concerned about rights as they are plain selfish.
- Muriel Hood, Littleton

I have to see humor in this. I don't think jail will bother them. They are just moving from one barricaded fortress to another LOL!
- Tonya Ferrara, Manchester, N.H.

Normally, I wouldn't advocate for deception on the part of our government (since there is already so much there anyways) but given the circumstances, this was absoutely brilliant. It was a huge inconvenience for the community of Plainfield and may hit our taxes, but thanks to ALL of the law enforcement agencies who did the ultimate job of keeping the citizens safe while bringing idiots to justice.
- Keidi,, Manchester, NH

Great job to the U.S. Marshalls!!! Yes it did take a awhile and us sane people were sick of hearing about the nutjobs up there, but at least no law enforcement has to lose their lives for these crazy people. This shows the Browns and any other nutjobs out there that with a little bit of tact anything can happen.
I also think the town of Plainfield should now become the onwers of that property for all their troubles.
- Rick, Bedford

I guess now everybody who's been wondering why the USMS has been letting all the loonies come and go freely from the Brown residence now knows the reasoning behind it. It's a fantastic outcome, and the Browns are now where they should be. Hopefully with more charges they'll stay there for a very long time.
- Adam Wells, Manchester

If I might make a suggestion, Plainfield really ought to dynamite the compound before it goes to auction, or the Free Staters or a militia group are just going to buy it and use it as an armed fort. Then we'll be back to square one.
- Mike R., Bedford

I commend the US Marshall for their job well done. The Brown's thought they were so smart and they were the ones that got tricked! 63 months is going to turn into a long time when they finally add up all the illegal weapons, homemade bombs, resisting arrest, criminal threatening, etc. charges. At their age they should die like they wanted to, life without the chance of parol! You know once they get out of prison they are going to go down with guns blazing I'm sure. I agree with adding terrorist charges. They were acting like Waco, TX in their house, luckily no one got hurt, even them.
- James, Derry

Good, they finally got these people. It is amazing they allowed this to go on for so long and it is such a pity so many people followed their lead. These kinds of people and actions give other NH citizens a bad name as if we are from some hick state! Pay your taxes and get a life!
- christopher, Manchester

Learn your lesson here folks. People who don't pay their taxes are dumb, as evidenced by these two litigants and their entourage. They fell for the oldest trick in the book. Congrats to the feds for pulling this operation off.
- Mike, Dover

Good for the feds, I'm tired of hearing from nutjob consipracy theorists who see little black helicopters following them around. The root of this problem was personal greed.
- Lee, Nashua, NH

Kudos to the U.S. marshals for bringing the saga in Plainfield to a conclusion without bloodshed. It would have been easy for them to blast their way in at the beginning, ending the siege and turning the Browns into martyrs in the process. But while the naysayers bleated on about nothing being done, the marshals were biding their time knowing that the Browns would eventually let their guard down. We owe them our thanks.
- Kevin Drew, Milford

Hats off to U.S. Marshal Stephen Monier, all the Deputies, Federal and state law enforcement officers and especially to the Plainfield Police Department and the surrounding agencies. This was an example of suberb and professional police work. This standoff was handled 100% correctly and I'm sure will be used as a training aid in the future. What a difference from the days of Janet Reno and her body count in Waco. This is how the grown-ups handle enforcing the law. Can't wait for the tax sale of the Brown's property, I've got my eye on that tractor!
- Mark, Manchester NH

Homemade bombs, hm? That's called federal prison time for Destructive Devices. Anyone who still supports them is guilty of supporting TERRORISTS, and should be dealt with as such. Bombs? In New Hampshire? We really needed people like this around? Good riddance!!!
- Josh Dupont, Manchester

“(this) will be a relief to everyone in the community,” said state Agriculture Commissioner Stephen Taylor

yeah, lock up those anti-government loons, says the komissar of korn and kows.

we are SOOO unlike the soviet union!
- George, Somerset