# Sovereign Citizens-- Please tell me this is fake **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [October 24, 2016, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572 "2016-10-24T07:38:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 866
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2024, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572/866 "2024-02-22T16:15:04Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > There are two issues here. The first, of course, is that renunciation of United States citizenship isn’t done the way those loons believe it is done. One must make such renunciation in front of a United States consular official outside of the United States and prove to said official one has paid their tax obligations. I know. Change the law. > [@Monty](#): > > The second is those loons love to call themselve _American nationals_. The funny thing is there really is in United States law American nationals. Those are the residents of American Samoa. Personally, I’d love to see one of those loons try that “I’m not an American citizen, I’m an American national” blarney on a cop in American Samoa. I know, and other insular territories like Guam and the Marianas. Part of the issue is the cops don’t know these issues. For example, “I’m traveling.” should be met with, “Are you crossing state lines? THAT is the Constitution definition of travelling.” And there is another one, I think it is the “I’m not engaged in commerce” argument which is true … for exactly 3 crimes under the USC so “I’m not in commerce.” should be met with “I am not citing you for …” --- _[View the full topic](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sovereign-citizens-please-tell-me-this-is-fake/769572)._