The Citadel
The Citadel is a proposed planned community in the mountains of Idaho, designed to be a "bastion of liberty", complete with pseudo-medieval curtain wall and towers. As of May 2014, it seems to exist only as promotional materials; it's unclear to what degree it's a publicity stunt for its creators, III Arms, a small firearms manufacturing company who claim that they are "the ONLY firearms manufacturer in the WORLD that builds their product specifically to kill tyrants."[1]
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[edit] Values and plans
According to the project's website:[2]
The Citadel is evolving as a planned community where residents are bound together by:
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Gun ownership and libertarian politics are major features, as is the planned curtain wall and castle defense system (yes, castle). The website warns that "Marxists, Socialists, Liberals, and Establishment Republicans may find that living within our Citadel Community is incompatible with their existing ideology and preferred lifestyles."[3] There appears to be some overlap with the sovereign citizen movement, as the project claims inspiration from James Wesley Rawles.[4] Rawles himself denies any involvement and resents the project riding on his coattails.[citation needed]
Applicants to the Citadel will be required to sign a "Patriot Agreement," which provides that they must pass annual marksmanship tests with handguns and rifles (starting at age 13 for anyone raised within), will own and maintain an AR15 with at least 1,000 rounds of ammunition, and will always be visibly armed with a handgun whenever they are in public.[5]
To help fund the project and provide a source of employment, a new gun factory is planned for the location. The Citadel plans to become a tourist attraction with RV parks, "world class fishing," a firearm museum, and perhaps a boarding school. In addition, they propose a bank that will issue their own gold and silver coins[6] - presumably as collectibles, though they also may plan to use them as a local currency like the Ithaca Hour.
The website's FAQ page reassures readers that the project's organisers are not actually a bunch of wackos, racists, or cultists.[7] However, one of the major figures in this project, Christian Allen Kerodin, does have three felony convictions for extortion and firearms offences.[8]
[edit] In media
The Citadel was bought to the attention of a larger audience on The Colbert Report which mocked the project, citing its similarity to Glenn Beck's Independence USA project.[9] The Daily Show followed suit two weeks later.[10] It has also been mocked by The Young Turks.[11]
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Enter Columbia, would you kindly?
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/IiiArmsCompany/info
- ↑ The Citadel website
- ↑ The Citadel website
- ↑ Unrelated to John Rawls,[wp] the philosopher.
- ↑ "Patriot's Agreement", the Citadel website
- ↑ The Citadel Website: Revenue
- ↑ "Are You a Bunch of Wackos/Cultists/Racists... etc.?", FAQ
- ↑ Convicted extortionist a key player in Idaho Citadel project, Salon
- ↑ Colbert Shines Light on Idaho's Citadel
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Gun-Mandatory Citadel is Totally Not a Cult