Posted on 05/02/2020 5:33:54 PM PDT by jazusamo
Governors across the nation have issued stay-at-home orders. Many have extended them once or twice. Some have even gone so far as to threaten to slap residents with fines. But what these governors are counting on is local police departments and sheriffs to enforce their orders. Sheriffs from around the country are standing up and refusing to enforce the orders because they believe them to be unconstitutional.
Two Arizona Sheriffs – Doug Schuster of Mohave County and Mark Lamb of Pinal County – said they will not enforce Gov. Doug Ducey's (R) stay-at-home order. Both Schuster and Lamb agreed to talk with residents about violating the governor's order but they would not arrest those who refuse to comply, Arizona Central reported.
Even though Mohave County is home to Lake Havasu City, one of the state's most popular tourist attractions, the sheriff believes people will be respectful of Ducey's orders.
“We’ll get compliance,” Schuster said. “These businesses are not looking to butt heads with law enforcement or the state.”
Sheriff Lamb, who has become a regular on A&E's "Live PD," said he never intended to make his "unspoken rule" known, but the governor's orders forced him to do so.
“I think people want to know that we’re going to support their constitutional rights,” Lamb said. “I felt (Ducey) pushed me into a position where I needed to make our stance clear.”
According to the Pinal County sheriff, the state's low number of Wuhan coronavirus deaths – 330 – no longer justified a stay-at-home order and keeping people from their livelihoods. He even went so far as to say he would join a lawsuit challenging Ducey's order.
“Three hundred deaths is not a significant enough number to continue to ruin the economy," Lamb said.
Schuster said if he received a complaint about a business, such as a restaurant being open, he would show up and encourage them to practice social distancing and other health care guidelines.
“Call me a coach,” he said. “We’re here to support you. We want to see businesses get back to normal as quickly as possible.”
Schuster said he has no desire to arrest people who are filling restaurant orders.
“My conscience will not allow me to arrest someone who is trying to make a living,” he said. “I don’t believe it is a crime to try and make a living.”
Two sheriffs in Washington State – Snohomish County Sheriff Adam Fortney and Franklin County Sheriff J.D. Raymond – had similar sentiments.
Fortney took to Facebook to explain why he thought Gov. Jay Inslee's (D) orders were wrong.
"I am worried about the economy and I am worried about Washingtonian’s that need to make a living for their family. As more data floods in week by week and day by day about this pandemic I think it is clear that the 'models' have not been entirely accurate," he wrote in a post. "While that is okay, we cannot continue down the same path we have been on if the government reaction does not fit the data or even worse, the same government reaction makes our situation worse."
He went on to say he believed Inslee's orders violated the Constitution.
"As your elected Sheriff I will always put your constitutional rights above politics or popular opinion. We have the right to peaceably assemble," Fortney said. "We have the right to keep and bear arms. We have the right to attend church service of any denomination. The impacts of COVID 19 no longer warrant the suspension of our constitutional rights."
Sheriff Raymond said he refuses to enforce Inslee's orders or "guidelines that infringe on your constitutional rights," KOMO-TV reported.
Raymond made the case that residents can be adults and care for themselves.
"I believe that social distancing and taking appropriate and proper steps to slow the spread of the virus and control its transmission is important," he wrote in a letter to his constituents.
Sheriffs across the nation are standing up against laws they believe are unconstitutional. It really is similar to sheriffs who are bucking gun control laws across the nation. They took an oath to uphold the Constitution and are doing everything in their power to preserve and protect their constituents' rights.
Sheriff's answer directly to the voter in most states.
I used to work with the Sheriff of Orange County, CA, Don Barnes. This was in the mid 80s he was a loan funder at Western Financial Savings Bank on Katella. Everybody liked him. Funny, hard worker, witty, kind and gentle. Tall guy, about 6’4 or 5.
One day he announced he was leaving to become a CHP. A few years ago, I found out he was Sheriff of the OC. No surprise. And his name has been mentioned on FOX a few times in the last few days. Apparently, he will refuse to enforce Newsome’s orders. No surprise. No surprise at all. Good guy.
It’s about time. Remember the ones that stood up for the constitution when they had to defy shutdown orders. Hold the others accountable.
Sheriffs are generally elected.The rural ones will stand with the people.
Yes, we see here a common sense application or non application of the law/”order!”
The Sheriffs of EVERY COUNTY IN THE USA are the last line of defense for the freedoms of “We the People!”
Choose your Sheriff wisely, Amen.
I wouldn’t bet on that. Some of us u masked are pretty tough
These shutdowns violate teh First Amendment, the Fifth Amendment, the Fourteenth Amendment, and arguably the Fourth Amendment, as well as possibly others.
Thank you to all of you I was not aware of this we have no sheriffs in my county!!
When the governor of NM can block access to Gallup, the war has begun. She has the backing of the law on her side. The national guard. The cops. There will be no country left in two more months.
32 million without jobs. Throw in a spouse and a kid and you have 100 million people whose lives have been destroyed. That’s almost one third of the country.
Think of all the food products made in factories. With those factories shut down, the food supply is shut down. With no job, no food, you have no life. No home, no school. Eventually governments will be laying of our precious government workers. That’s what? Another 50 million people?
The stupidest thing ever was to shut down the country. We may never recover. We will never be the same. As my buddy likes to say. ...just keep buying ammo. ....
Yes that’s appalling. The tyrant of New Mexico declares full martial law and no patriots oppose her. I am hoping other areas are more patriotic and interested in defending liberty. There should be massive demonstrations and court challenges. We will see if any of the sheeple awake
“Obey lawful orders.”
What *is* a lawful order?
No Nuremberg defense.
Same here in my area of southern indiana. Our restriction wasnt as severe as other places but people have been going about their life. The police have basically said unless you are doing something totally stupid they are leaving you alone.
Good grief! What a crock of bull. I wear a mask every flu season and will continue to do so regardless. I didn’t start with COVID. I don’t wear one because “they” told me too. A lot of people my age with lung or other issues wear one during flu season. That doesn’t make me one of “them”. I don’t care if you or anybody else wears one or not.
I lived 15 years in Japan and mask wearing there has been around since. ...forever. ....like you, they wear one to help protect themselves and folks around them. One must do what one thinks best. ..and ignore idiots that feel otherwise.
What I was talking about was not necessarily about mask wearing, but more about the government taking away our liberties and constitutional rights. The government has become insanely drunk on power and their determination to control our lives. ...right down to dictating who and what job is essential and what is expendable.
The war that is brewing is us v. The government. The government is using the covid flu as their excuse to control our lives. Freedom must never be controlled by the government. Freedom is just one generation away from being lost.
Like what 0bama would say about the constitution. ....”it’s a failed document because it doesn’t say what the government CAN. Do to you....”
Hope this clears things up.
I have noticed that the sheriffs across this country are far more inclined to back the constitution than regular LEO’s I wonder why this is!!!
The lockdown has morphed from control of Covid-19, to control of people. We’re in an “arms race.” Any good news is immediately countered by another “we all gonna die” narrative. We have learned much in this panicdemic... that those who seek to RULE us as if we’re serfs, not govern by our consent as citizens... are OK with despotism! The more the better. And any questioning... much less opposition to liberty stealing draconian measures... is “wanting people to die!”
Which again proves... ALL tyranny is done for the “good” and “safety” of the people!
Those cops should be fired immediately. And the woman should have told them she has a right to remain silent, and to vacate the property. I would be hiring me a pitbull of a lawyer and sue the living shit out the cops, the state, the governor, and anyone else I could think of.
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