By David Codrea
USA – -(Ammoland.com)- Liberty advocate, citizen journalist and self-described “smuggler” Mike Vanderboegh talked about his health, his blog and the principles of the “Three Percent” movement in an exclusive interview with this correspondent, recorded in late May. The audio file, converted to a YouTube video, is presented at the end of this introduction.
The file is a bit rough, and I need to take responsibility for that. I make no pretenses of being a videographer, and had never tried to record a Skype call before, which is how we did the interview. Since that doesn’t have a recording feature, free software was used which did not record video. Due to inexperience and lack of proper equipment, I was getting a reverberation loop or whatever you call it whenever Mike spoke — his voice going into his laptop microphone and then coming back out from his speakers after a fraction-of-a-second lag made the whole interview seem like a wasted effort. Fortunately, my son and his friend have both the software and skills to take the repetition out, so there are only a few instances of garbling. And in this case, it’s the message, not the presentation, that’s significant, and that comes through loud and clear.
We started out with a health update, a day-to-day struggle for a man whose doctor gave him six months back in January and four weeks in April. Importantly, Mike’s clarity of thought and strength of spirit have remained intact throughout his ordeal.
We talked about a recent garage sale. Mike still has plenty of surplus equipment left, and I’ll be coordinating with his son at a later date to advise people who may be interested. We talked about his papers, now archived at Brown University. We talked about his ongoing civil disobedience efforts, manifested by “smuggling” magazines into “progressive”-ruled states that have the arrogant presumption to try and ban them.
We talked about Mike’s Sipsey Street Irregulars blog, where he’s shared his insights and opinions over the years, all backed by a tremendous well of knowledge and experience. We talked about how stewardship of the blog has been taken over by Mike’s son Matthew, who brings his own military and life experiences into a site that promises both to continue the father’s legacy as well as to break new ground.
We talked about “Valediction,” a farewell of sorts from Mike to his readers, where he once more shared his assessment of the current state of affairs and the likely developments those who share his vision can expect. We talked about what it means to be a “Three Percenter,” and importantly, what it does not mean.
Unfortunately, the realities of Mike’s health meant we had to cut our conversation short. If we are given another opportunity, I hope to be able to share his thoughts on the ongoing, Operation Fast and Furious “gunwalking” lethal debacle — Mike is the first person to have reported on the connection with the death of Border Patrol agent Brian Terry, and our joint efforts to get whistleblower revelations noticed by the media and brought under the protection of Congress is something that has been thoroughly documented, if not recognized by any outside of a niche readership.
Because no video was recorded during the Skype interview, I took a screenshot of Mike and have used that as the image that displays on the YouTube video. It certainly is a contrast from how those of us who have known him throughout the years remember Mike, and some may think a different choice should have been made. I used the one I did because many of you have contacted me expressing regret that you cannot personally visit with Mike, and if you did, this is who you would see, and who you would extend your well-wishes, your prayers, your caring and your gratitude to.
Speaking of gratitude, fighting for freedom isn’t exactly a secure, paying gig. Mike’s family could use our help and there’s also the matter of a fitting monument to resolve. If you’ve received value from Mike’s work, you know it, and only you can determine the value you think you should return. To do that, you can make a gratitude offering in recognition of the value you received. There’s a PayPal “Donate” button in the right sidebar at Sipsey Street Irregulars, or if you don’t like using them, checks or money orders (made out to “Mike Vanderboegh”) and cash can be sent to him at PO Box 926, Pinson, AL 35126. And, as always, I’ll ask you to be a force multiplier and to spread the word.
Here’s the interview:
Also see:
- Vanderboegh Shows Strength and Dignity Preparing for ‘Other Side’
- Collected video links to Mike’s speeches
- Meet The Camo-Clad, Gonzo Bloggers Behind The Fast And Furious Story
About David Codrea:
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating / defending the RKBA and a long-time gun rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament.
In addition to being a field editor/columnist at GUNS Magazine and associate editor for Oath Keepers, he blogs at “The War on Guns: Notes from the Resistance,” and posts on Twitter: @dcodrea and Facebook.