Will Our Rights Be Preserved by Our Sheriffs?

American Thinker ^ | 1/29/2013 | Russ Vaughn

[sheikdetailfeather]

The Land of Enchantment is a physically beautiful land indeed, yet one with the misfortune to be so traditionally misgoverned by our liberal Democrat majority as to be relegated too frequently to the very lowest rankings of the states when it comes to poverty, education, health, etc.

Once in a while, however, we do find something besides our majestic landscapes to be proud of. A statement just issued by the New Mexico Sheriffs' Association and signed by 29 of 33 county sheriffs, declaring that their oaths of office don't require them to enforce federal laws they consider unconstitutional, provides New Mexicans with just such a moment. While I've read and heard similar statements from individual sheriffs and police chiefs in other states, I've not seen anything comparable from a statewide law enforcement association.

The Sunday, Jan. 27th, Albuquerque Journal published an article written by Mike Bush of the Mountain View Telegraph quoting several county sheriffs from around the state to the effect that they will refuse to support the President's attempt to restrict constitutionally protected firearms ownership. The ABQ Sunday article is not posted on their website but there is a link to a Jan. 24th article by the same reporter, Mike Bush, published by the Mountain View Telegraph. The ABQ piece appears to be a fleshed out version of the original and reveals that the Sheriff Dan Houston of Bernalillo County (that's Albuquerque and the state's largest metro area) is one of the signers. The Sheriffs' Association website has posted a press release containing this:

[sheikdetailfeather]

Pushback has already begun.

[sheikdetailfeather]

“But even if Obama proceeds in his arrogant gun grab, we the people will know we’re not alone in our fight. It seems highly unlikely that any sheriff who signed that pledge is going to permit Eric Holder’s BATF or any other federal agents to disarm the citizens of his county. If that proves not to be, then:

Molon labe...”

[bbernard]

Here’s one from the Utah Sheriffs association. Read the last sentence.....

http://www.utahsheriffs.org/USA-Home_files/2nd%20Amendment%20Letter.pdf

[pgkdan]

Outstanding!!! There’s hope for this country yet.

[109ACS]

Don’t count on the Florida Sheriff’s Association.

At one time open carry was allowed in Florida and when concealed carry was being considered, the Florida Sheriff’s Association came out strongly against it. They said it would be safer for police officers to know who was carrying weapons.

When concealed carry was passed, they pressured to have open carry rights taken away and it was.

A couple of years ago, open carry was being considered (in addition to concealed carry) and the Florida Sheriff’s Association came out against open carry because they considered it unsafe for the police officers. (reverse logic)

Basically, they are opposed to the sheeple having any gun rights.

Here’s a video showing a representative of the Florida Sheriff’s Association (a now former sheriff of Pinellas County) testifying before the Florida House. He talks about “granting rights” and at one point states that his deputies will “draw down” on anyone open carrying, even if an open carry law was to pass. They successfully blocked the open carry law.

http://youtu.be/zp0ef4v6Bp4

[bbernard]

I agree.

It is at the local level that this country will be saved.

Some Sheriffs understand this.

Posse comitatus

[Bulwyf]

This is good to see these Sheriffs stand up, however that said, you have to be the one to protect your rights.

If everyone waits for someone else to protect their rights, we’re in deep trouble, people have to accept responsibility for themselves and their country and stand up as one, together.

The window is closing fast. The temperature of the water is increasing to almost fatal levels. Who wants to fade away, who wants to stand up for their rights granted by God? Stand up for God? It’s one thing to defend yourselves against tyranny, but that won’t make a country great. A country doing God’s will, that’s what makes a country great.

[Travis McGee]

I'm sure glad that the sheriffs don't agree with Obama and the other traitor moles.

[Jack Hammer]

“A statement just issued by the New Mexico Sheriffs’ Association and signed by 29 of 33 county sheriffs, declaring that their oaths of office don’t require them to enforce federal laws they consider unconstitutional....”

Lucky for New Mexico, and even luckier when Obama begins - as he surely will - to enact intitiatives which are even more blatantly and outrageously unconstitutional.

When that happens, every heroic sheriff nationwide who maintains constitutional restraints on the overreach of federal power will be worth his weight in pure, solid gold.

[iontheball]

I never fully understood the deviousness of stripping county sheriffs of their original law enforcement powers until this latest gun grab. Lunch Box Joe's brother, as Delaware AG, is now actively trying to strip the sheriffs in Delaware of their powers. This is a deliberate and continuing effort of the left to centralize control. Sheriffs are directly elected by the people to safeguard and protect their personal rights. Police chiefs are appointed bureaucrats who own their allegiance to another higher political hack. The direct link between the county people and their local sheriff is effectively destroyed with this deliberately contrived deviousness. A sheriff who still retains all his law enforcement powers is the highest law enforcement power in his geographically defined jurisdictional area. That means that no outside law enforcement action can lawfully take place in his jurisdiction without being approved first by him. If he disapproves of the action, he can send the outside enforcers packing or arrest them if they persist. If he needs help to do so, he can call on the local populace to assist, deputize them, and proceed accordingly.

[Victor]

Well said, Iontheball....I completely forget that Sheriffs are elected by the people, not appointed by politicians.

Great point...but in a sprawling suburb, such as here in New Jersey, could the Sheriff of Monmouth County actually override, say, the Chief of Police of Middletown when it comes to Constitutional law enforcement?

Would the Sheriff have the authority to stop Middletown cops from confiscating legally owned weapons..?

[RetiredArmy]

This article was in the Alabama web site, Al.com. It is from a meeting with the socialist in the white house and the president of the national sheriff's association, who happens to be a sheriff here in Alabama. He is a democrat. He is never around. He has been all over the country and even to Israel. He is never in the county. He is a politician now, not a sheriff. His chief deputy runs the sheriff's office while this fool is out playing democrat politician. And, he is a liar in this article. I know more about him than what he says here. I know members of his family. They tell a different story about him. He would take our guns at the drop of a hat.

http://blog.al.com/wire/2013/01/what_the_alabama_sheriff_told.html#incart_river

[JMJJR]

Colorado Sheriff's way in.

'County Sheriff's of Colorado'

[sheikdetailfeather]

What you posted just goes to show how important it is that America elect sheriffs who adhere to the constitution and don’t back down.

[stuartcr]

We’ve got both open carry and concealed carry with permit. I’m hoping VA will get concealed carry w/o permit.

[RetiredArmy]

I was recently told by a member of his family that he is afraid of the next election because he thinks citizens of the county will backlash against him because of Obama. He is scared he might lose. He has been in office around 20 years. I was told that he has thought about jumping parties to be a republican, BECAUSE HE IS SCARED he will lose the election because of Obama. Yet, he kisses Obama and dimocrats butts. I could never vote for him. He is a liar. He has mislead people in his county. He is as I said, never in the county. He is running around the country playing politician. He is overseas, Israel, etc. How can a small Alabama county sheriff have the need to be in Israel and other countries? How does that benefit Alabama? Little in my humble opinion. It is him BUILDING HIS EMPIRE AND HIS AFTER OFFICE FUTURE EMPIRE. He is a democrat running scared of the next election.

[sheikdetailfeather]

http://www.wftv.com/news/ap/crime/chiefs-from-mass-shooting-towns-to-meet-with-obama/nT8HL/

Police push for background checks on gun purchases

By NEDRA PICKLER

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON —

Law enforcement leaders who met with President Barack Obama Monday urged him to focus on strengthening gun purchase background checks and mental health systems, but did not unify behind his more controversial gun control efforts.