IIRC, didn’t a bunch of church members borrow money from a bank (or more), then default on the loans, forcing the banks out of business and the Fed to bail out the depositors? I seem to recall some kind of news program about this at one time.
If the state won’t do anything, the federal govt. should. They threaten to cut off funding for states who don’t do things like enact child seat belt laws, I would think this is more damaging than any seat belt issue. And why do assholes like John Mark Karr pay thousands of dollars to go to SE Asia for their little girl abuse, why don’t they just go to Utah?
And I agree, the worst part of this is the CLOTHES they make the wimminfolk wear- sheesh!
I think that people tend to catch the FB-EYE when they cross state lines. Some of these guys are on the listed for FLEEING from murder charges. Some are child-porn guys. Some are mobsters.
http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/topten/fugitives/fugitives.htm
I’ve always kind of thought that that list was sort of a “marketing tool”, too. By putting Jeffs on the list, it’s sending a message.
I don’t recall that section in UTBOH, but something along those lines happened when Arizona Authorities had a round up of polygamists in the 50’s. (Most members of the FLDS church lived and live in Arizona, not Utah). It was a mess. THe Arizona officials couldn’t make the case because no one would testify against the others, and they rounded up all adult males in the community, most of whom weren’t in polygamist marriages and some who weren’t even in the FLDS church. They also had the nightmare of hundreds of wives and several hundred children living without support. THe whole raid was an unmitigated disaster. Arizona quickly backtracked and released the majority.
You should know, though, that the FLDS church of the 50’s is very different from the FLDS church of today. THey were mostly self-sufficient (no welfare cheats), didn’t marry off their children significantly younger than their non-FLDS peers, and generally broke no laws (except polygamy) and kept to themselves.
I knew some FLDS members back in the late 80’s, and the church was different then, too. THe FLDS girls and boys I knew were well-educated and well spoken. (I first met them on a high-school trip that you had to win a fairly difficult essay contest in order to be invited.) THey were strange and a little Amish-like in dress and behavior, but nice friendly people. The women I knew were nobodys fools, and had every intention of finishing high school at least before even thinking about marriage. I corresponded with one girl for quite a while, and I can tell you she was knowledgably committed to her faith and was nobodys fool. I even knew a (non-FLDS) polygamist wife who was a fairly successful attorney.
THings started changing when Warren’s father, Rulon, got older and Warren started to take command. Women were taken out of the workforce, and children were taken out of public school. The young men of the community were expelled and the brides got younger and younger. As insulated as the community was before, it became downright paranoid. Jeffs started building his compound in Texas. Things weren’t great before Warren took over (the FLDS families were in financial trouble because many depended on agriculture to make money, and it wasn’t as lucrative any more, and it is an amish like existance, without the Rumspringa, with all the problems that entails), but Warren is very Koresh-like.
Unfortunately, Warren’s arrest is unlikely to change anything. THe FLDS church has a long history of admired jailed leaders “ruling” from prison. Remember, both Joseph Smith and John Taylor (early honored leaders) both spent time in prison, which didn’t significantly weaken the church. In fact, most will probably see this as a trial of faith to strengthen their resolve. Even if Jeffs were to die (unlikely any time soon), the next leader is likely to be as bad becauseWarren has kicked out most moderate voices in the FLDS community, even his own brother.
I would advocate keeping him from communicating with his followers (if legally possible), and see what develops. In the meantime, keep prosecuting the statutory rapes and welfare cheats and assist organizations that assist those leaving the FLDS community.
Now that you mention it, I think you’re right, and I was wrong above; the incident I’m remembering from the book was in Arizona. I’ll have to look again. The general point stands, though.