Editorial Board of Salt Lake Tribune Calls for Governor to Use National Guard Against Unvaccinated

Townhall ^ | 01/16/2022 | Rebecca Downs

[SeekAndFind]

An alarming amount of Democrats, as Scott highlighted, support strict government action against the unvaccinated, according to a recent poll from the Heartland Institute and Rasmussen Reports. That desire for such force against unvaccinated citizens has been extended to the mainstream media with a January 15 editorial from The Salt Lake Tribune calling on Gov. Spencer Cox (R) to activate the National Guard to prevent unvaccinated Utahans from participating in society.

That's actually what it says:

Were Utah a truly civilized place, the governor’s next move would be to find a way to mandate the kind of mass vaccination campaign we should have launched a year ago, going as far as to deploy the National Guard to ensure that people without proof of vaccination would not be allowed, well, anywhere.

The paragraph in question is third to last in an editorial that is whiny and unbearable even before then. "Utah leaders have surrendered to COVID pandemic, the Editorial Board writes," is the headline they went with.

Such a dangerously absurd call was quickly exposed and called out over Twitter.

The Salt Lake City newspaper wants the Utah national guard to not allow unvaccinated people to leave their homes. This is mindless, anti-science insanity — omicron is infecting everyone — but these “journalists” are demanding totalitarianism. And they think they’re the good guys. pic.twitter.com/BYoskGNQ5R— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) January 16, 2022

The @sltrib editorial board demands Utah governor use the National Guard to prevent unvaxxed from going outside.

A national newspaper is openly calling for the military to be used against Americans.

This utterly insane and very dangerous. pic.twitter.com/ZslYGifmRy— Real Developments (@pdubdev) January 16, 2022

I think we should deploy the National Guard to shut down corporate media outlets that spread terror and misinformation. We can start with you guys.

Just kidding, this is America -- we should not use the military to shut down disagreement from our fellow citizens. Are you insane?— Christina Pushaw ?? (@ChristinaPushaw) January 16, 2022

Did anyone have “Tribune advocates for fascism” on their 2022 Bingo card?— Dr Sebastian (@EcoloPsych) January 16, 2022

I’m more worried about people who believe insane things like this than I am about COVID. https://t.co/KvpmpHqPN9 pic.twitter.com/SUydF08hxR— Aaron (@_AaronRyan) January 16, 2022

It's also worth highlighting that the excerpt The Salt Lake Tribune's tweet went with, included below, is misleading:

Government officials, mostly but not exclusively Republicans, were apparently determined not to be caught governing in the face of this challenge. Any move or recommendation to mask up or, when safe and effective vaccines became available, to make vaccination a requirement of admission to public places and society in general was shouted down as an unwarranted imposition on individual freedoms.

The editorial garnered the attention of Deidre Henderson, Utah's Republican lieutenant governor. 

To be clear: Gov. Cox and I have always pushed for ppl to get vaccinated as the best way to keep from getting sick, stay out of the hospital, and not die from COVID. If you’re not, please get vaccinated. Omicron is infecting vaccinated ppl but vaccines are still the best defense.— Deidre Henderson (@DeidreHenderson) January 15, 2022

It has consistently been the position of Republican officials to yes, speak about "individual freedoms" as a reason to come out against vaccine mandates, but also to encourage people get vaccinated as the best defense against the Wuhan coronavirus. One can see that very form of encouragement above in Lt. Gov. Henderson's tweets.

The editorial even goes on to acknowledge that, but then utterly dismisses the idea of encouraging something because it doesn't force someone to do something:

Cox and others have correctly said that the best tool for fighting the spread of the virus, individually and collectively, was to get two — then three — doses of the vaccine. That is absolutely the correct advice.

But Cox and so many others have not carried the courage of their convictions. Cox, state legislative leaders, our congressional delegation and Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes have so proudly stood against the kind of vaccine mandates that civilized society has used for generations to effectively wipe out everything from polio to diphtheria to the measles.

Gov. Cox on January 6 posted a video message to his website, "GOV. COX PLEADS WITH UTAHNS TO GET VACCINATED, BOOSTED."

The Salt Lake County Republican Party issued a statement on the editorial from Chair Chris Null which supported the governor's approach and also demanded an apology from the news outlet, emphasizing that "Utah deserves an apology from the Salt Lake Tribune."

The statement goes on to read in part that "The Editorial Board pretends to have all the answers, disparaging a proven safe and highly effective Nobel Prize-winning drug by calling it a “horse de-wormer”, in effect giving (bad) medical advice. They manage to echo the level of hate and bigotry that sounds more like 1933 Nazi Germany, as Hitler took over, than present-day Utah – the state that “keeps the American dream alive.” We cannot allow this thinking to enter our society. The Salt Lake Tribune must apologize to the people of Utah and reign in these board members before their infection spreads worse than the pandemic we are already fighting."

Utah was involved in a lawsuit against the Biden administration's vaccine mandate that would have used Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to force private employers with 100 or more employees to have vaccine or regular testing mandates. 

Last Thursday the U.S. Supreme Court blocked such a mandate in a 6-3 ruling. 

[SaveFerris]

Shades of order 666

(To add to your good comment)

[maggief]

Mormon nepotism.

Senator Mitt Romney, right, speaks with Paul Huntsman, chair, and other members of The Salt Lake Tribune Editorial Board, Aug. 21, 2019.

Michelle Quist

Joining the Editorial Board this month as the new community member is Michelle Quist.

Dave Patel

Dave Patel joins the Editorial Board as a representative of The Salt Lake Tribune Board of Directors.

Paul Huntsman, chair

Paul purchased The Tribune and became its publisher in 2016, and remains the chairman of its board now that the newspaper has become a nonprofit. He is president of Huntsman Family Investments, and serves on a number of other nonprofit and corporate boards. He has a bachelor's degree from the University of Utah and a master's degree in business administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Lauren Gustus, executive editor

George Pyle, opinion editor

Tim Fitzpatrick, senior director of public outreach and operations

https://www.sltrib.com/news/2018/02/02/huntsmans-legacy-now-in-the-hands-of-his-eight-children/

Huntsman's legacy now in the hands of his eight children

[UNGN]

My Wife is Fully Vaccinated with Moderna. She has felt terrible and has been coughing on unvaccinated me for the last week. she tested Positive for Covid yesterday morning. I have yet to have any Covid symptoms and feel fine.

She got Covid from the elementary school she works at where spread among the staff the first week back from break was high. If I get her Covid, I will have got it from a fully Vaccinated person, but I would think I would have got it by now.

Sure this is all anecdotal, but it disproves the narrative that Vaccines are the end all be all, especially with Omicron.

[Ken H]

Was it Omicron?

[UNGN]

Most likely its Omicron.

Her test ruled out Flu A & B and RSV but didn’t say what strain of Covid she had. I may have had a scrathy throat for one day last week, but I have to wear a mask at work (because I’m Unvaccinated) and I always seem to have a scratchy throat from that.

Maybe it was 15% Scatchier than normal.

[qaz123]

Rather than worry about what the editor is writing about, worry about the number of Democrats that are moving into the state, and others, and changing the political make up.

Which is happening all over the country.

[servo1969]

3

The Salt Lake Tribune: Were Utah a truly civilized place, the unvaccinated would be up against the wall.

Far fetched? At the rate they’re going I’d say give it a year or so.

[DoughtyOne]

I’ve been thinking Guantanamo...

Hell, they think of us as terrorists.

[unlearner]

Openly calling for our representatives and leaders to commit criminal and unconstitutional actions is sedition. It is an incitement against the highest law of the land — our Constitution.

This is far worse than any supposed illegal conduct by January 6 protestors.

People advocating these things should be locked up.

[Kevmo]

And yet, you are against holding Ray Epps accountable by way of citizen-arresting him.

[unlearner]

Nope. No one is going to do that. It’s nothing more than a foolish kidnapping idea.

Anyone capable of doing that has bigger fish to fry. I suggest freeing the unconstitutionally held political prisoners from Jan 6 would be a start.

[Kevmo]

You think holding one FBI informant’s feet to the fire is undoable but “freeing the unconstitutionally held political prisoners from Jan 6 “ is doable. Your probability schemes are all backwards.

[ronnie raygun]

This coming from the thrice vaccinated super spreaders right now. Try it

[unlearner]

I never described either as “doable”. Performing a “citizen’s arrest” is perhaps doable but inadvisable.

My main point is that we don’t really KNOW what Epps was up to or whose side he’s on. He appears to deserve charges brought more than most of the people the Feds are targeting, but they aren’t interested in Epps for some unknown reason. But we do KNOW there are people who are being illegally held as political prisoners.

The same forces that are currently keeping many Jan 6 protestors in jail (illegally) would also put anyone in jail who attempted (whether successfully or not) to detain or arrest Epps.

So, the question is whether YOU think YOU have the power to defeat these same forces. If so, why not just direct your efforts where they are best served: setting the illegally detained protestors free.

Anyone who attempts to citizen’s arrest Epps is going to end up joining the political prisoners of Jan 6. Ironically, advising anyone to take such actions is very similar to the thing we all suspect Epps of doing.

This begs the question: Are YOU an FBI agitator?

I doubt it, but I suggest it’s a very bad idea to encourage anyone to use citizen’s arrest to go after Epps or any of the criminal politicians who certainly deserve to be locked up. Even encouraging others to do so could get in you in hot water.

[Kevmo]

I never described either as “doable”. Performing a “citizen’s arrest” is perhaps doable but inadvisable.
***It is VERY advisable because the guy did what all those Jan6ers are actually being held in prison for without even being accused of it.

My main point is that we don’t really KNOW what Epps was up to or whose side he’s on.
***At this point I don’t care what your main point is because it took you this long to get to it. It doesn’t matter if we KNOW because there is VIDEO of him actually doing it.

He appears to deserve charges brought more than most of the people the Feds are targeting,
***You are arguing MY point.

but they aren’t interested in Epps for some unknown reason.
***The reason is KNOWN but not provable. The guy is obviously a fed informant. He deserves severe imprisonment.

But we do KNOW there are people who are being illegally held as political prisoners.
***Attempted diversionary tactic.

The same forces that are currently keeping many Jan 6 protestors in jail (illegally) would also put anyone in jail who attempted (whether successfully or not) to detain or arrest Epps.
***Nonsense.

So, the question is whether YOU think YOU have the power to defeat these same forces.
***I know I have the power to citizen-arrest Ray Epps, I just don’t have the wherewithal.

If so, why not just direct your efforts where they are best served: setting the illegally detained protestors free.
***Secondary attempt to divert attention.

Anyone who attempts to citizen’s arrest Epps is going to end up joining the political prisoners of Jan 6.
***No, they are not. Because the video evidence against Epps is compelling and the law is clear: We have the right to citizen arrest people whom we witness committing crimes. You just don’t like it.

Ironically, advising anyone to take such actions is very similar to the thing we all suspect Epps of doing.
***Bullshiite.

This begs the question: Are YOU an FBI agitator?
***That begs the question? This is your third attempt at diversion. You’re just a simple provocateur.

I doubt it,
***Then you’re just bein’ a shiite-disturbing provocateur.

but I suggest it’s a very bad idea
***There you go again. Upholding wussiness as if it’s a virtue.

to encourage anyone to use citizen’s arrest to go after Epps
***You really kinda suck at coming up with good reasons to be against this action. You just don’t like it, and so you expect others to think it’s a bad idea because it goes against your grain of simple conventional thinking.

or any of the criminal politicians who certainly deserve to be locked up.
***4th attempt at diversion.

Even encouraging others to do so could get in you in hot water.
***There you go again. Now you’re just repeating your wussy assertions without any support in facts nor law.

[unlearner]

“We have the right to citizen arrest people whom we witness committing crimes. You just don’t like it.”

Years ago I was an armed security guard. I’m not claiming to be an expert, but I do know what the laws say in my state and what the entire legal premise of “citizen’s arrest” is. You do not.

Seeing a video of a crime does not grant you that authority. You must be an eye witness, maintain a continuous line of sight of the perp, you must be sure the crime meets the statutory requirements of the state where the crime occurred, and you must act at the time of the crime you witnessed. After that it is in the hands of duly appointed officers of the law.

Here is the specific law in D.C.:

https://code.dccouncil.us/us/dc/council/code/sections/23-582

Like everywhere else, citizen’s arrest only allows you to hold a criminal in order to turn him over to law enforcement. Hunting down a person who committed a crime (possibly) in D.C. and arresting him in another state is NOWHWERE considered a lawful exercise of the rights of a citizen to arrest a suspected criminal. It has NOTHING to do with how I feel about, or how YOU feel about it for that matter.

Ray Epps resides in Arizona. Here is the pertinent law regarding becoming an accessory to the crime of kidnapping which you are arguing for:

https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/00303.htm

If you solicit, command, advise, or aid someone who decides to kidnap Ray Epps, you could be criminally liable as well as the kidnapper. (And that is exactly what someone. Attempting to “citizen’s arrest Epps would be charged with, along with trespassing, unlawful restraint, and any other of many charges including for whatever weapons are used, crossing state lines, etc.)

I advise not to attempt such a thing against Epps, and I advise not to encourage others to do so, because BOTH could lead to your incarceration and criminal charges being filed against you.

You can choose to take my advice or ignore it.

Beyond that I don’t feel our discussion on this topic is serving any further purpose. Thanks for your time. Good luck.

[Kevmo]

Years ago I was an armed security guard.
***So was I. And I citizen-arrested only one person.

I’m not claiming to be an expert,
***Then why bother putting that into a sentence?

but I do know what the laws say in my state
***I don’t care about your state unless it’s the state that Ray Epps committed his crime in. Most likely that’s in DC which isn’t even a state.

and what the entire legal premise of “citizen’s arrest” is.
***I know it as well. Every state has provision for citizens’ arrest.

You do not.
***I do, you do not. You really enjoy this thing where you just assert something and we should all genuflect before you just because you said it.

Seeing a video of a crime does not grant you that authority.
***The LAW grants you that authority. The VIDEO is evidence.

You must be an eye witness,
***Not true. Video is enough evidence.

maintain a continuous line of sight of the perp,
***Not true at all.

you must be sure the crime meets the statutory requirements of the state where the crime occurred,
***No you don’t have to. It is best if it does meet those statutory requirements but the reasonable person standard exists as it pertains to the citizen arrest laws in all 50 states.

and you must act at the time of the crime you witnessed.
***Not true at all. Cops expect to interview you.

After that it is in the hands of duly appointed officers of the law.
***CUSTODY is where the perp gets put into the hands of duly appointed officers of the law. When the alleged crime is a felony, the officers have no choice but to take the person into custody. I just have a strong inkling you didn’t know that.

Here is the specific law in D.C.:
https://code.dccouncil.us/us/dc/council/code/sections/23-582
***From your link:
(b) A private person may arrest another —

(1) who he has probable cause to believe is committing in his presence —

(A) a felony; or

(B) an offense enumerated in section 23-581(a)(2); or

(2) in aid of a law enforcement officer or special policeman, or other person authorized by law to make an arrest.

(c) Any person making an arrest pursuant to this section shall deliver the person arrested to a law enforcement officer without unreasonable delay.

Like everywhere else, citizen’s arrest only allows you to hold a criminal in order to turn him over to law enforcement.
***Notice that you are no longer saying that such a person citizen-arresting another is gonna go to prison? Because you were wrong.

Hunting down a person who committed a crime (possibly) in D.C. and arresting him in another state is NOWHWERE considered a lawful exercise of the rights of a citizen to arrest a suspected criminal.
***Bullshiite. That’s how bounty hunters make their living.

It has NOTHING to do with how I feel about, or how YOU feel about it for that matter.
***You’re just a lying sack of shiite and you just made that up.

Ray Epps resides in Arizona.
***Then citizen-arrest him in Arizona for the FEDERAL crime of insurrection. Duhh.

Here is the pertinent law regarding becoming an accessory to the crime of kidnapping
***You are completely full of shiite. I am arguing for citizen arrest. You’re one of those people who just plain argues against the strawman, a straw argument. Because you don’t know how to argue your real case.

which you are arguing for:
https://www.azleg.gov/ars/13/00303.htm
***No I am not arguing for that so quit using the logical fallacy of straw argumentation.

If you solicit, command, advise, or aid someone
***In citizen-arresting Ray Epps, then I aided someone in citizen-arresting Ray Epps, not this bullshiite straw argument of kidnapping. Geez, get over yourself.

who decides to kidnap Ray Epps,
***You could have just now aided and abbetted a Timothy McVeigh because of your ridiculous and hopeless legal “advice” so they go hunting down FBI informants all due to the fact that they believed your bullshiite about not being able to citizen-arrest them. See how ridiculous this line of argumentation becomes? No, you won’t see, because you’re just a petulant bootlicking troll.

you could be criminally liable as well as the kidnapper.
***Best of luck with that. You’ll be liable for the next Timothy McVeigh.

(And that is exactly what someone. Attempting to “citizen’s arrest Epps would be charged with,
***Horse shiite. Get over yourself.

along with trespassing,
***I say, let them try.

unlawful restraint,
***It is not unlawful if you citizen-arrest them and turn them over to the custody of the local police. You just plain have no idea how gigantic that duhh factor is.

and any other of many charges
***There you go again with that upholding wussiness as if it were some kind of virtue.

including for whatever weapons are used, crossing state lines, etc.)
***Now you’re just throwing around whataboutisms. Perhaps that makes you feel important or sumthin.

I advise not to attempt
***I advise you to pull your head out.

such a thing against Epps,
***Epps deserves it and I would do it if I had the wherewithal. You are just a coward.

and I advise not to encourage others to do so,
***I advise you to stick your cowardice where the sun don’t shine.

because BOTH could lead to your incarceration and criminal charges being filed against you.
***You really are full of yourself, aincha? I feel sorry for your domestic partner.

You can choose to take my advice or ignore it.
***You can choose to pull your head out or leave it there. I doubt you can choose to let go of your cowardice, however, because it has grown so strong within you.

Beyond that I don’t feel our discussion on this topic is serving any further purpose.
***Oh, cool. Because your kind of cowardice is exactly what conservatism does not need.

Thanks for your time. Good luck.
***Good luck pulling it out. I’m sure there are plenty of freepers who can give you advice on that.