Kootenai County Sheriff's position -- What do you think of it?

[NumaJohn]

Hello, all.

FYI, here's an article from today's Spokesman-Review that some of you might find of interest/ripe for critiquing:

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/dec/21/shawn-vestal-kootenai-county-sheriff-ben/

John

[Elkaholic daWg]

"In Colorado, many sheriffs are refusing to enforce new laws passed by the state Legislature regulating the size of assault-rifle magazines. That’s right: County sheriffs are taking it upon themselves to announce, publicly and proudly, that they will not enforce legally passed laws. They are doing so to great acclaim among those who are, ironically, self-declared constitutional purists.

One sheriff stood before news cameras holding two magazine clips – one that violates Colorado’s new law and one that doesn’t – and noting that they were virtually impossible to distinguish. Therefore, he won’t even try. A strange spectacle indeed – can you recall the last time a cop stood up with, say, a baggie of cocaine and a baggie of baking powder and said it was just too dang hard to figure out the difference?.............................................
..........................People who pay attention may recall that the last attempt to pass even wildly popular gun control legislation, closing the gun-show loophole, couldn’t overcome the loyalty to the National Rifle Association among Congress-lackeys."
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Looks more like an editorial than a news story, loaded with opinion as usual for urban Washington media

[Special T]

All Laws are selectively enforced. Many are just "Tools" to catch real bad offenders. MOST issues with small traffic infractions, Lights etc are just so that Leos can have a contact to find out if you are DUI, Have a warrant or other bad guy infractions. I always find it amazing that Liberals point to conservatives  and say "Your not being 110% consistent your a hypocrite!" Yet they will use ANY tool at their disposal to push their agenda.

[actionshooter]

 The way I see it, these Sheriffs have a choice they must make.
 Do they uphold their oath to the constitution or do they enforce laws (which is their job) some of which violate the constitution.
 Sounds like the author of the editorial (not news) and the Sheriff have made their choice.

[washelkhunter]

Well there ya go. The Constitution is the supreme law of the land. If only everyone who has sworn to it would remember that. I back the sheriffs.

[pianoman9701]

He has sworn to uphold the law and the Constitution. It's not his job to interpret the Constitution or object to laws which he thinks violate the Constitution. That's the court's job. I understand his stand. I'm not saying I agree with it. The writer of the article, however, is a real winner and absolutely giddy over what he sees as a win for the left. He's mistaken.

[bigtex]

He has sworn to uphold the law and the Constitution. It's not his job to interpret the Constitution or object to laws which he thinks violate the Constitution. That's the court's job.

 

We all remember last year/early this year when several sheriff's spoke out against gun control. Many people on here were happy "their sheriff" spoke out. However, most sheriff's associations, including the National association and the Idaho Sheriff's Association essentially said what Pianoman said, it is not the sheriff's job to determine what is constitutional and what is not.

The Sheriff's who spoke out were doing it for the votes. Almost all in WA that spoke out were newly elected Sheriff's. Most of the Sheriff's on the Westside went along the lines of the National Association.

And besides the point, state and local officers do not enforce federal laws, unless those laws are then adopted into state law. So when Sheriff's came out and said "my deputies will not enforce new federal gun laws" they should have said "my deputies never have enforced federal gun laws, and don't have the authority to." And some sheriff's actually did say they don't enforce federal laws, but not many.

[Bob33]

He has sworn to uphold the law and the Constitution. It's not his job to interpret the Constitution or object to laws which he thinks violate the Constitution.

If a sheriff were asked to selectively target and harass black people, would you take the same position?

Does a sheriff not have any obligation to his conscience?

[pianoman9701]

He has sworn to uphold the law and the Constitution. It's not his job to interpret the Constitution or object to laws which he thinks violate the Constitution.

If a sheriff were asked to selectively target and harass black people, would you take the same position?

Does a sheriff not have any obligation to his conscience?

There is no law to harass and target black people. If the sheriff's conscience tells him to ignore the law, he's breaking his oath. His job isn't political activism. It's to uphold laws. If he said he was not going to go after rapists, would you have a problem with that? A rapist is just pursuing his own happiness as promised in the Constitution. Don't forget, I wouldn't agree with further gun control laws. It's not LEs job to decide Constitutionality, only to enforce laws.

[Bob33]

He has sworn to uphold the law and the Constitution. It's not his job to interpret the Constitution or object to laws which he thinks violate the Constitution.

If a sheriff were asked to selectively target and harass black people, would you take the same position?

Does a sheriff not have any obligation to his conscience?

There is no law to harass and target black people.

There isn't, but there was a time when it considered not only acceptable but desirable.  Throughout history there have been immoral laws. Germany in WWII is just one of many examples.

I believe there is a time and place for not obeying laws. This may not be one, but there are valid cases.

[pianoman9701]

And, having said all of that, I'm not looking to recall any sheriff who says we have enough gun laws for the law-abiding. I just think it's a dangerous precedent for one to say he's going to pick and choose which laws he'll enforce.

[CAMPMEAT]

Obama ignores the constitution and makes up laws to suit himself, so why can't a sheriff choose ?

[pianoman9701]

Obama ignores the constitution and makes up laws to suit himself, so why can't a sheriff choose ?

Do you want all of our sheriffs to emulate Obama?

[CAMPMEAT]

Obama ignores the constitution and makes up laws to suit himself, so why can't a sheriff choose ?

Do you want all of our sheriffs to emulate Obama?

God no, that would be even more disastrous. Don't forget, we're always guilty until proven innocent in the country.

[Bob33]

When the sheriff is ordered to go door to door and confiscate all 870 shotguns, will you welcome and support him because he is upholding "the law"?