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They're 'Unconstitutional': Sheriffs Are Refusing to Enforce Stay-at-Home Orders
Townhall.com ^ | May 2, 2020 | Beth Baumann

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.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Arizona; US: Washington
KEYWORDS: 1a; arizona; constitutionalleo; coronavirus; dougducey; firstamendment; franklinco; jayinsley; mohaveco; pinalco; sheriffrtopcop; sheriffs; snohomishco; stayathomeorders; takethatfedz; unconstitutional; washington
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To: unixfox

“Just following orders” is an excuse for all kinds of mischief under color of law.


41 posted on 05/03/2020 10:56:40 AM PDT by ding_dong_daddy_from_dumas (Mozart tells you what it's like to be human. Bach tells you what it's like to be the universe.)
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To: jazusamo

Subject:: It’s not about your health!

“When the State tells you it’s safe to go to Home Depot to buy a sponge but dangerous to go and buy a flower, it’s not about your health.

When the State shuts down millions of private businesses but doesn’t lay off a single government employee, it’s not about your health.

When the State bans dentists because its unsafe, but deems an abortion visit is safe, it’s not about your health.

When the State prevents you from buying cucumber seeds because it’s dangerous, but allows personal lottery ticket sales, it’s not about your health.

When the State tells you it’s dangerous to go golf alone, fish alone or be in a motor boat alone, but the Governor can get his stage make-up done, and hair done for 5 TV appearances a week, it’s not about your health.

When the state puts you IN a jail cell for walking in a park with your child because it’s too dangerous but lets criminals OUT of jail cells for their health- It’s not about YOUR health!

When the state tells you it’s too dangerous to get treated by a doctor for chiropractic or physical therapy treatments yet deems a liquor store essential- It’s not about your health!

When the State lets you go to the grocery store or hardware store but is demanding mail-in voting, ITS NOT ABOUT YOUR HEALTH.

WAKE UP PEOPLE — If you think this is all about your health you’re mistaken! Please open your eyes! Stop being lead like blind sheep.”


42 posted on 05/03/2020 11:25:53 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Are the ChiComs/PRC, ESPN of America's, fake news media/CNN, Democrats, the real Deep Staters?)
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To: jazusamo

A woman holds up a sign as California Highway Patrol officers push back against protesters at a Capitol "Reopen California" anti-Newsom protest amid the coronavirus pandemic. Many participants did not wear protective masks or follow social distancing guidelines. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

43 posted on 05/03/2020 11:26:41 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Are the ChiComs/PRC, ESPN of America's, fake news media/CNN, Democrats, the real Deep Staters?)
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To: lapsus calami

“The lake parks around here are bursting with people, right this moment. The only thing the deputies and lake rangers are concerned with is managing the traffic and parking. And the drunks .”

That happened in N. California on the Delta about 2 weeks ago.

A ton of boaters and Striped Bass fishers decided to fish or boat on the Delta. Our son and his 19 year old son spent about 2 hours to launch their boat and 2 hours at the departure site.

The rangers/wardens and deputies were busy handling the launching and landing traffic and a few drunks.


44 posted on 05/03/2020 11:32:21 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Are the ChiComs/PRC, ESPN of America's, fake news media/CNN, Democrats, the real Deep Staters?)
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To: RummyChick

The evil people without masks are everywhere!

Bless them.


45 posted on 05/03/2020 11:34:10 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Are the ChiComs/PRC, ESPN of America's, fake news media/CNN, Democrats, the real Deep Staters?)
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To: Grampa Dave

Bump!

For your list and the lady in red, they’re both right on!


46 posted on 05/03/2020 11:36:01 AM PDT by jazusamo (Have You Donated to Keep Free Republic Up and Running?)
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To: jazusamo
Meanwhile in Californicator land:

A woman holds up a sign as California Highway Patrol officers push back against protesters at a Capitol "Reopen California" anti-Newsom protest amid the coronavirus pandemic. Many participants did not wear protective masks or follow social distancing guidelines. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

47 posted on 05/03/2020 11:37:07 AM PDT by Grampa Dave (Are the ChiComs/PRC, ESPN of America's, fake news media/CNN, Democrats, the real Deep Staters?)
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To: jazusamo

Odds are Sheriff Lamb’s tenure on Dan Abrams’ show is about to abruptly end.


48 posted on 05/03/2020 11:38:25 AM PDT by daler
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To: Tennessee Conservative; redshawk
"I can see both sides of the issue but I'm getting a little touchy over the mask hate because people are being targeted and threatened for wearing them."

Yes. It's time to make sure that our personal security measures are adequate. There are cheap body cameras that work fine. Make sure that you have self-defense legal services, but make sure that the legal agreements for the legal services are valid during the epidemic. Do more range training, stay as fit as possible and clean cut.

Oklahoma city ends face mask rule for customers after threats of violence
https://nypost.com/2020/05/03/oklahoma-city-ends-face-mask-rule-after-threats-of-violence/

49 posted on 05/03/2020 12:17:14 PM PDT by familyop (Hell hath no fury like a scorned parrot.)
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To: Newbomb Turk; All

I see a number of posts on this thread stating the Sheriffs get it because they are elected.

So are the Governors. Why do the Governors not get it?

One elected office gets it and the other doesn’t? There is no logical sense to the premise. What’s to stop the Sheriff from enforcing the Governor’s order? At what price can a Governor buy off the Sheriff’s cooperation?

All I am saying is while I applaud them for taking their Oath seriously...WE should be careful to not take that for granted. Both are elected offices and logically one would think the Governor would be just as loyal, but as we are seeing, they are not.


50 posted on 05/03/2020 1:28:57 PM PDT by EBH (May God Save Our Freedom from our enemies within)
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To: redshawk

In Michigan 60% of the States Department of State are on Furlough. Counties are furloughing employees and hospitals are cutting staff and even clinics are being shut down


51 posted on 05/03/2020 1:31:12 PM PDT by hondact200 (Lincoln Freed the Slaves. Obama Enslaves the Free. Trump 2020 - Keep America Great)
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To: Grampa Dave
 
 
The "party" here got started last weekend, this weekend it's off the charts. The density of it has created a mass of vehicle traffic and parking issues that has probably surpassed turnout for any Memorial Day weekend. Vehicles are parked practically on top of each other and the lake rangers have run themselves ragged trying to manage the crush of traffic.
 
 

52 posted on 05/03/2020 1:35:52 PM PDT by lapsus calami (What's that stink? Code Pink ! ! And their buddy Murtha, too!)
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To: wastedyears
One that is in compliance with the Constitution.
53 posted on 05/03/2020 2:17:19 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Leave it to me to be holdin' the matches when the fire truck shows up & there's nobody else to blame)
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To: EBH
So are the Governors. Why do the Governors not get it?

Because the Governors live far away.

The Governor might not have even gotten a majority of the vote in your county. But you can bet the sheriff did.

Rather then the untouchable elite living in the capital the sheriff lives right there. And if he ticks off the people of his county he will not be re-elected.

54 posted on 05/03/2020 2:22:42 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Leave it to me to be holdin' the matches when the fire truck shows up & there's nobody else to blame)
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To: catnipman

Colorado does not have a state police force ...

Actually there are many Colorado State Police. CSU has a contingent of Colorado State Police officers. I do not know what other schools have State Police. There are State police at the state capitol.


55 posted on 05/03/2020 2:51:05 PM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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To: mountainlion

The Colorado State Patrol, based in Lakewood, Colorado, is a
division of the Colorado Department of Public Safety, and is
one of the official state police agencies of Colorado, along
with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and several smaller
state agencies.

https://www.google.com/search?q=colorado+state+police&rlz=1CAXGER_enUS827&oq=colorado+state+police&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l7.9791j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8


56 posted on 05/03/2020 3:00:01 PM PDT by deport
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To: jazusamo
“These businesses are not looking to butt heads with law enforcement or the state.”

{cue up my very best Brando voice impersonization…}

57 posted on 05/03/2020 3:26:13 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: jazusamo
“Three hundred deaths is not a significant enough number to continue to ruin the economy," Lamb said.

But a few kids shot up in school are enough to try to change the Constitution!

58 posted on 05/03/2020 3:28:32 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: redshawk
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.



One of these days; a few thousand Richard Dreyfuss types are going to remove their masks...

59 posted on 05/03/2020 3:37:22 PM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: jazusamo

Nice to see at least some of law enforcement are not drones who will do literally anything they are ordered to do. It is their duty to protect and respect individual rights, even if ordered to do otherwise.


60 posted on 05/03/2020 4:16:57 PM PDT by Repeal 16-17 (Let me know when the Shooting starts.)
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