Gene Chapman's Story

DEATH-FAST in Austin, Texas

One man's effort to get an answer...

What started as a reasonable question to authority has now become a cause with purpose! Texas state Citizen Gene Chapman wants to know: "Where is my tax liability in the law?" Beginning April 15 he was willing to at least lose some weight in the matter and possibly go further. May 24th, day forty, Gene, resigned to go the distance if an bona fide answer was not received! There was no answer! Gene got the message that it was time to end his fast, replenish his strength and re-apply his energy by taking his message 'on the road.' Visit Gene's new site www.exodus10-3.org

"Where is MY tax liability in the law - specifically?" A simple question to which anyone who is presented a tax - any tax - should get an immediate, specific and legitimate response. 'Show me authority!' No response = unresponsive government. First Amendment - Bill of Rights, Right to petition government. No response causes a reasonable man or woman to presume that there is no answer? Is the Constitution alive and well? Or are the servants taking over the master's house? No answer = no legitimacy = no law = extortion! (First Corinthians 6:10) (In law they say: Nihil dicit - he says nothing = confession.)

Beginning on the symbolic date of April 15, 2003, Gene began his death-fast with the intention of getting an answer from the Internal Revenue Service to the question he's been asking for more than three years. "What makes Texas Citizen Gene Chapman liable for income tax? Where is this liability so stated in the law - specifically?" Simple questions. And now many inquiring minds want to know: Where are the answers?

Gene is a proud Texan, from Lewisville, with ancestry that goes back to the early days of Texas. Some of his kinfolk actually fought with Sam Houston in the battle of San Jacinto where Texas won its independence from Mexico on April 21, 1836.

A soft-spoken, modest, single, middle-age, working man with no desire to be a ‘cause celebre’, Gene just wants a bone fide, legitimate, documented response to his question. And he is willing to go all the way to death to get it! Being a sincere Christian and an admirer of Mohandas Gandhi (India, 1869-1948), and other devotees to peaceful answers, Gene is willing to submit himself to the now probable and definite perils of a prolonged food fast to achieve his goals. Several health professionals are checking on Gene during the day and he is allowing himself water. As of day 34, he has lost over 50 pounds - one attending nurse believes such a rapid weight loss is not beneficial for his heart. Austin, Texas weather is not being kind to him. April 24 saw a new record high of 95 degrees! And as virtually no rain fell during the month, April 2003 is now in the record books as being the third driest on record since the battle for the Alamo. To those of us who have shelter from the elements this may not seem like much to be concerned about - however, this author suggests that a reader spend just one day on a street corner without food wherever the reader may be and report back on the experience. Because of the kind donations Gene has thusfar received, he is able now to be indoors. The in-expensive motel that he is currently in doesn't offer many ammities - and he doesn't have the need for many. He is weak in his physical and yet his mind is clear! He appreciates the support he's been getting.

Dressed in a dhoti of Indian fabric, which he located with the help of Arun Gandhi, a grandson of Mohandas Gandhi, and seated on a donated lawn chair, as his original stadium seat was taken while he was indisposed, under what is now known as the “Liberty Tree” on the street corner of Parker Lane & Woodward Street, in south Austin, Texas, directly across from the Austin Regional IRS Unit - Gene gently smiles and waves at the various onlookers that go by. They wave, horns sound, some stop and talk. This particular area is well populated with University of Texas students and, before the end of the semester, many would stop and chat while they were waiting for the shuttle to take them to school. “Helps shorten the day” says Gene. An interesting note is the reaction he gets from the IRS employees as they leave work for the day – smiles, hand waves, horns, and thumbs up! "Do they know something that we don’t?" Also, in an apparent show of solidarity local police seem to be patrolling the area with a bit more frequency.

Gene has a modest camper unit which houses personal belongings and provides sanitary facilities. It was a place to sleep during the nights prior to getting a motel room.

Local media coverage so far has been adequate and yet sometimes misleading. In a short piece (two min.) during the 6:00 p.m. segment (Monday, April 21), the local talking head (Kenneth Vargas) for the I.R.S. gave the standard canned response to the TV news reporter (Quita Culpepper) about the IRS being legitimate and the tax being constitutional, etc., and nothing about Gene's question. Kenneth Vargas publically stated that he would be happy to help Gene - as of day 34 he has not visited, contacted or done anything (known) regarding Gene Chapman. Interesting side note that shows how sometimes media can be mis-leading -- the local announcer’s (Ron Oliveira) end statement said that if one wanted to change the tax they should attempt do so by talking with state law makers. State lawmakers? Duh... (State lawmakers have nothing to do with Federal taxes.) When told of this news coverage Gene just smiled. Visit Gene's blogger site and listen for yourself.

Well there you have it up til now. Gene says that various IRS/Treasury people have told him that they would meet with him and we’ll let you know what happens then. As of day 39 - nothing from live people. A couple of Agents told Gene they would attempt to 'back-channel' to try and help him - no word from them - yet. Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's office, after prompting, requested Gene sign a release so that they might be of assistance - as of day 34 no response. Have you told a friend or two about Gene's death-fast? Have you directed anyone to this website?

Gene requests that others across America join him in solidarity by fasting Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays as the spirit leads. Gene says, “Let us cast wickedness where it belongs and working towards solidarity we can do that.” Listen to what else Gene has to say by visiting http://genechapman.blogspot.com/ by clicking the VISIT BLOGGER button.

DISCLAIMER: This web page and related pages where brought into being as a public service to help keep the concerned public aware of the happenings in the life of Gene Chapman in Austin, Texas during his potentially life-ending quest for an answer to his question to the IRS: “Where is my tax liability in the law?” Other than first seeing him on the local television newscast and now knowing him as doing what he is doing and receiving information from him from time-to-time regarding his activities, and reporting same, this website owner has no affiliation with the man Gene Chapman or any organization relating to him. The owner of this site does have Gene Chapman’s permission to set-up, maintain and promote this site and to collect contributions. As Gene doesn’t have the facilities to set-up and maintain a website himself this is also both a service for and to him. People who may desire to help Gene in any way are to know that a certain portion of anything collected through this webpage (http://www.in-austin.com/death-fast/) or related pages on this site will go towards maintenance and upkeep of site.

Neither Gene Chapman nor the owner of this website can be responsible for content on any websites linked to this site, either to or from.

PLEASE NOTICE: email sent to Gene Chapman at gene@in-austin.com is printed and delivered to him. As the volume of email is increasing – he may or may not respond. HOME