Released on = February 12, 2006, 10:29 am

Press Release Author = Free State Project

Industry = Non Profit

Press Release Summary = Free State Project hopes to attract frustrated libertarians.

Press Release Body = San Francisco, CA -- San Francisco handgun owners who are
unwilling to comply with the city’s new gun ban and confiscation that goes into
effect over the next two months have at least one promising alternative: Join the
hundreds of other Californians who have signed up for the Free State Project and are
moving to New Hampshire.

The Free State Project is a grassroots movement that seeks to attract 20,000 people
who fervently believe in limited government to move to New Hampshire, where
individuals and businesses can flourish in a low regulation, low-tax, small
government state.

Gun laws in New Hampshire were a key reason for its selection as the Free State. Any
resident without a criminal record can openly carry firearms, and permits for
concealed carrying are available to any resident passing a background check. New
Hampshire is ranked as having the fourth lowest violent crime rate in America, as
opposed to California’s ranking as 41st, despite California’s numerous gun control
measures. (2005 rankings, based on “Crime in the United States: 2004,” the FBI).

Almost 10 percent of the project’s participants are from California. Many are
leaving to escape the state’s excessive regulation and taxation. Some are leaving
especially because of the repressive gun laws.

“Whether or not the court challenge on February 15 to the Measure H gun ban is
successful, I want to live someplace where my neighbors value tolerance, freedom and
personal responsibility,” said Morey Straus, an active participant of the Free State
Project currently living in San Francisco. “California seems to be in a downward
spiral toward a police state.”

Sandy Pierre, who left the Bay Area for New Hampshire last spring, agreed. “A group
of my girlfriends and I are going to take a firearms safety class together in a
couple of weeks. Here in New Hampshire, it\'s not considered dangerous or wrong to be
capable of taking care of yourself.”

San Francisco voters approved the controversial gun control measure in November by
58%. In addition to restricting handgun possession to law enforcement and
corporations, it also prohibits the sale of all firearms and ammunition within city
limits. Several civil liberties groups have banded together to challenge the measure
in court on February 15 on grounds that it is unconstitutional. If those efforts
fail, the sales portion of the ban will go into effect on March 1, and residents
will be required to turn their handguns over to the authorities by April.

While the Free State Project has no official agenda other than encouraging citizens
who believe in individual liberty and personal responsibility to move to New
Hampshire, participants are expected to work toward reducing government in the areas
most important to them.

Since the Project\'s inception in late 2001, nearly 7,000 have signed the statement
of intent to move to New Hampshire, and an estimated 400 participants are already
there.

Other issues being championed by individual activists include lowering taxes,
decriminalizing marijuana, fighting the exploitation of eminent domain by private
interests, and repealing government regulation of marriage between adults.

More information about the Free State Project can be found at www.FreeStateProject.org.


Web Site = http://freestateproject.org

Contact Details = Brian Gottstein, Media Relations Coordinator Free State Project
540-309-8255 Gottstein@CreatePositiveImpact.com