Gov. Kitzhaber says he'll block efforts to have armed civil patrols in Oregon. (AP Photo)
Posted on 11/05/2001 1:41:12 PM PST by Jolly Rodgers
Gov. Kitzhaber says he'll block efforts to have armed civil patrols in Oregon. (AP Photo)
Kitzhaber: No Armed Civilian Patrol
November 5, 2001, 01:30 PM
By AP Staff
Gov. John Kitzhaber is voicing doubts about the local sheriff's plan to set up an armed volunteer civil defense force to deter terrorist attacks on sensitive facilities.
Because the proposal calls for volunteers to carry firearms, Clatsop County Sheriff John Raichl's defense force appears to amount to a kind of militia, according Steve Marks, the governor's chief of staff.
Only the governor has the authority to form such groups, Marks said.
"We're very concerned with having citizens armed without training, and without being deputized to carry out the duties of law enforcement," he said.
Still, Marks said the governor's staff is ready to work with the county on a compromise, to allow extra people to patrol vulnerable sites.
At a meeting on north coast emergency preparedness last week, Raichl said he envisions a force of 125 volunteers who could be mobilized during periods of high alert. They would patrol docks, bridges, reservoirs, power stations, gas lines and other vital places that can't be adequately covered by law enforcement in Clatsop County.
Under Raichl's plan, the volunteers would not be deputized but would operate under the authority of the sheriff. They would patrol in pairs, using standard sporting firearms such as rifles and shotguns, but would not be allowed to take enforcement action.
Raichl said the idea isn't that much different from the civilian patrol groups who watched the country's shorelines during World War II.
Marks said the proposal also raises tricky questions about the county's legal liability for the volunteers and for any actions they might take while "on duty."
Deputizing a volunteer force is one way to get around the legal roadblocks, but Raichl said he wants the volunteers to act only as watchdogs, and not take any law enforcement action on their own.
Raichl's plan called for the establishment of five "garrisons" of about 25 people each to help patrol facilities that could be targeted for attack.
The volunteers would be required to call in regular law enforcement personnel if they spotted suspicious activity, and would be allowed to use their weapons only for self-defense.
The sheriff said he still feels that allowing the volunteers to be armed is important if they are going to be patrolling in isolated areas of the county.
Raichl said many people have already contacted the sheriff's office to ask more about the force and even volunteer their services.
(Copyright 2001 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
L
Okay. If so Governor, then get busy immediately*, issue state guidelines, and delegate this to the local area sheriffs. This is no time to be playing politics. * The definition of immediately is by close of business tomorrow, not next month.
Militias are specifically mentioned in the second amendment, but when Kitzy uses the word, it sounds like an invective.
Darned right it's not. I get sick of hearing them whine about not having the resources to protect our infrastructure only to turn around and tell the citizens we can't be allowed to serve as volunteers to protect ourselves.
Governor Kitzhaber should be asked to consider George Washington's views before he opposes a proposal that simply recognizes the value in making citizens again responsible for the safety of their society. (What works in the economy, works just as well in other areas.) The Sheriff has the American tradition on his side.
William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site
So find any scandal in his past - particularly a messy divorce, "love child," drugs, tax liens, or messy lawsuit - and out it on as many local talk shows in Oregon as possible. Local shows - where you don't waste time preaching to the choir, and where you won't be censored ("screened") into being not allowed on the air.
WELL REGULATED militia--hence the governor's role. Get it?
No, the only part of the Bill of Rights that talks about the rights of state governments is the Tenth. The governor may set certain regulations for the militia, but he has no authority to tell them they cannot form, and the sheriff is the highest authority in his own county and has the right to form his own militia if needed for security within his own county. That precedent goes way, way back.
Nice insult at law-abiding gun owners, jack. I think the sheriff of a given county is capable of determining if someone is skilled and disciplined enough to help provide security for his own county.
I've got news for you, us rednecks are already carrying our firearms concealed when you encounter us on the streets in Oregon. The only difference is that we would like to have a bit of coordination with law enforcement so that critical infrastructure can be watched a bit more closely.
Oh, and by the way, welcome to the forum newbie. :-)
/john
ARTICLE X
THE MILITIA
Sec. 1. State militia
2. Persons exempt
3. Officers
Section 1. State militia. The Legislative Assembly shall provide by law for the organization, maintenance and discipline of a state militia for the defense and protection of the State. [Constitution of 1859; Amendment proposed by H.J.R. 5, 1961, and adopted by the people Nov. 6, 1962]
Section 2. Persons exempt. Persons whose religious tenets, or conscientious scruples forbid them to bear arms shall not be compelled to do so. [Constitution of 1859; Amendment proposed by H.J.R. 5, 1961, and adopted by the people Nov. 6, 1962]
Section 3. Officers. The Governor, in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the military forces of the State, shall appoint and commission an Adjutant General. All other officers of the militia of the State shall be appointed and commissioned by the Governor upon the recommendation of the Adjutant General. [Constitution of 1859; Amendment proposed by H.J.R. 5, 1961, and adopted by the people Nov. 6, 1962]
Section 4. Staff officers; commissions. [Constitution of 1859; Repeal proposed by H.J.R. 5, 1961, and adopted by the people Nov. 6, 1962]
Section 5. Legislature to make regulations for militia. [Constitution of 1859; Repeal proposed by H.J.R. 5, 1961, and adopted by the people Nov. 6, 1962]
Section 6. Continuity of government in event of enemy attack. [Created through H.J.R. 9, 1959, and adopted by the people Nov. 8, 1960; Repeal proposed by H.J.R. 24, 1975, and adopted by the people Nov. 2, 1976]
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