Out Of Control: Sheriffs Refuse To Do Their Job
Here is about the last story I would expect to read on plain vanilla NBC News. Maybe the whole Ferguson mess is prompting a few producers, editors, and reporters in corporate media to start covering real news that effects your security: sheriffs using an “interpretation” of the Constitution that was pulled out of the gun lobby’s ample sphincter.
With more states passing stronger gun control laws, rural sheriffs across the country are taking their role as defenders of the Constitution to a new level by protesting such restrictions and, in some cases, refusing to enforce the laws.
Sheriff Mike Lewis considers himself the last man standing for the people of Wicomico County, Maryland.
“State police and highway patrol get their orders from the governor,” the sheriff said. “I get my orders from the citizens in this county.”
Lewis and other like-minded sheriffs have been joined by groups like Oath Keepers and the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, both of which encourage law enforcement officers to take a stand against gun control laws.
While the position of sheriff is not found in the U.S. Constitution, it is listed in state constitutions. Nearly all of America’s 3,080 sheriffs are elected to their positions, whereas state and city police officials are appointed.
Lewis and other sheriffs, and their supporters, say that puts them in the best position to stand up to gun laws they consider unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to bear arms.
“The role of a sheriff is to be the interposer between the law and the citizen,” said Maryland Delegate Don Dwyer, an Anne Arundel County Republican. “He should stand between the government and citizen in every issue pertaining to the law.”
Click here for reuse options!When Lewis was president of the Maryland Sheriffs’ Association, he testified with other sheriffs against the state’s Firearms Safety Act (FSA) before it was enacted in 2013. One of the strictest gun laws in the nation, the act requires gun applicants to supply fingerprints and complete training to obtain a handgun license online. It bans 45 types of firearms, limits magazines to 10 rounds and outlaws gun ownership for people who have been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility.
After Lewis opposed the bill, he said he was inundated with emails, handwritten letters, phone calls and visits from people thanking him for standing up for gun rights.
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: dave-dr-gonzo
David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.
* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.
Maxx44 August 22nd, 2014 at 00:07
Were those handwritten letters in crayons?
Maxx44 August 22nd, 2014 at 00:07
Were those handwritten letters in crayons?
RioBravoHombre August 22nd, 2014 at 00:08
The year I was born, a Sheriff and his deputies in rural Mississippi decided what laws they would enforce. That decision led them to kidnap Schwerner, Chaney and Goodman, torture them and assassinate them. The bodies were then entombed in an earthen dam. It’s good to see that conservatives haven’t changed and are willing to flout any law they deem unacceptable.
Herb Sarge Phelps August 22nd, 2014 at 00:38
I remember those three young men murdered in Philadelphia Ms. back then. I was about 50 miles away and remember what people were saying in the area. It was a time when States Rights was yelled, but what they were really saying was, “open season on black people”.
RioBravoHombre August 22nd, 2014 at 02:17
My Mom’s family is from south of I-10 in Louisiana. I have KKK relatives, including my Granddad and loads of uncles and cousins. They still blather, prattle and babble about state’s rights and a new Confederacy.
John Tarter August 22nd, 2014 at 08:50
I see, so you deny that states’ rights are part of the Federal Constitution? (Hint, it comes after #9 and before #11)
RioBravoHombre August 22nd, 2014 at 11:25
States rights is racist code for racist lies…do you deny that? Do you think the Civil War was over slavery? Or, do you lie to yourself and the rest of us and claim it was fought for states rights? States rightists are nothing but Confederate loving racists who want to return blacks to slavery. Do you deny that?
Khary A August 22nd, 2014 at 11:58
Get em Rio.
RioBravoHombre August 22nd, 2014 at 12:07
My caffeine level is high and getting higher!
wjshelton August 22nd, 2014 at 12:21
How convenient of you to skip over a later amendment that guarantees due process and equal access to the law to ALL people and extends the Bill of Rights’ guarantees to the states. (Hint, it comes after #13 and before # 15). Ignorant cracker!
grrace August 22nd, 2014 at 15:01
If you are in a “show your ID to vote” state. I think it would be very positive if they accidentally lost their ID. :D
granpa.usthai August 22nd, 2014 at 07:44
pretty much like the white republicans yelling ‘rule of law’ now.
RioBravoHombre August 22nd, 2014 at 00:08
The year I was born, a Sheriff and his deputies in rural Mississippi decided what laws they would enforce. That decision led them to kidnap Schwerner, Chaney and Goodman, torture them and assassinate them. The bodies were then entombed in an earthen dam. It’s good to see that conservatives haven’t changed and are willing to flout any law they deem unacceptable.
Herb Sarge Phelps August 22nd, 2014 at 00:38
I remember those three young men murdered in Philadelphia Ms. back then. I was about 50 miles away and remember what people were saying in the area. It was a time when States Rights was yelled, but what they were really saying was, “open season on black people”.
RioBravoHombre August 22nd, 2014 at 02:17
My Mom’s family is from south of I-10 in Louisiana. I have KKK relatives, including my Granddad and loads of uncles and cousins. They still blather, prattle and babble about state’s rights and a new Confederacy.
John Tarter August 22nd, 2014 at 08:50
I see, so you deny that states’ rights are part of the Federal Constitution? (Hint, it comes after #9 and before #11)
RioBravoHombre August 22nd, 2014 at 11:25
States rights is racist code for racist lies…do you deny that? Do you think the Civil War was over slavery? Or, do you lie to yourself and the rest of us and claim it was fought for states rights? States rightists are nothing but Confederate loving racists who want to return blacks to slavery. Do you deny that?
The last of the Thousad Sons August 22nd, 2014 at 11:58
Get em Rio.
RioBravoHombre August 22nd, 2014 at 12:07
My caffeine level is high and getting higher!
wjshelton August 22nd, 2014 at 12:21
How convenient of you to skip over a later amendment that guarantees due process and equal access to the law to ALL people and extends the Bill of Rights’ guarantees to the states. (Hint, it comes after #13 and before # 15). Ignorant cracker!
grrace August 22nd, 2014 at 15:01
If you are in a “show your ID to vote” state. I think it would be very positive if they accidentally lost their ID. :D
granpa.usthai August 22nd, 2014 at 07:44
pretty much like the white republicans yelling ‘rule of law’ now.
Maluminse August 22nd, 2014 at 00:27
Im a true blue progressive. I campaigned for Obama which I now regret due to the nsa revelations. (Yes I know he didnt start it) But I digress.
What bafffles me is I always imagined those that stood for the people supported the bill of rights. The Bill of Rights are powers specifically retained to the people. All of them.
Beyond that it also seems like a progressive position to say that people that are protesting government overreaching, like those in Ferguson, should have some method of ultimate defiance/insurance.
The 2nd to me, like the 1st, is a method of government check.
Tommy6860 August 22nd, 2014 at 00:38
But it’s interesting when people ignore the Articles of the Constitution. This sheriff is not the Constitution unto himself, it’s why we elect lawmakers by the will of the people. Men like this nutcase, are no different than the dictators they claim to protect us from.
Maluminse August 22nd, 2014 at 00:49
Well it is an interesting point they make. They are elected leaders. But I also agree police choosing which laws to enforce is problematic.
But posit this. At what point does the sheriff, the soldier, reject his orders and defend the people?
Imagine 1943. Your a German soldier. Or Egypt in the past few years. You see the people being abused. At some point it is an elected or government official which rejects the powers that be that takes the side of the people.
If the democratic system has failed when does the soldier defend the man and not the throne?
tiredoftea August 22nd, 2014 at 00:54
The democratic system hasn’t failed But, may if people like this sheriff and the fringe crazies he follows are permitted to pick and choose the laws they will enforce.
Maluminse August 22nd, 2014 at 01:00
Thats not the question. The question is when does the soldier/sheriff reject the system?
I vehemently disagree that the system has not failed. Any assemblance of democracy is gone. Taken over by mass megapoly corporations and their lobbyists. Media is controlled by a handful of corporations. Dem and Rep are the same party.
I digress.
Question remains: When does the sailor preach mutiny?
granpa.usthai August 22nd, 2014 at 07:42
Dems and Reps are by no stretch of the imagination anywhere close to being the same. Rep’s believe in ‘the rule of law’ like in Nevada – ‘the rule of the white racist law by the force of arms’, Dems on the other hand realize it for what it was – a failed coupe by white racist terrorist thugs – supported politically by the white republicans and their contacts in the us military. No way are those idiots that stupid without having heavy political cover – enough to allow them to merely walk away fully armed armed under the ‘rule of republican white racist law’.
John Tarter August 22nd, 2014 at 08:48
The coup happened when Obama got elected, aided and abetted by the main stream media who did not thoroughly vet this leftist communist community agitator. A man so far out of his league it isn’t funny.
grrace August 22nd, 2014 at 14:57
Wow. So, you must have rrreally hated Bush.
William Carr September 2nd, 2014 at 10:13
There’s your problem. Falling for the myth that Dems and Republicans are the “same party”.
Your logic is impaired.
Tommy6860 August 22nd, 2014 at 00:56
Only if when that soldier, (or if this sheriff) in fact actually understands the meaning of what the purpose of the Constitution is. From what I’ve read he doesn’t, and he’s more dangerous. But since you brought up the “German Soldier”, they wound up following a former soldier who used the same premise as this sheriff did, his name was Adolf Hitler. Again, the Articles of the Constitution, when they are disallowed, then you have a point, but that make the sheriff as dangerous as the government official he so detests.
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 02:34
Oh please….
mea_mark August 22nd, 2014 at 10:29
When votes don’t count.
tiredoftea August 22nd, 2014 at 00:42
“The 2nd to me, like the 1st, is a method of government check.” Uhh, no. Time to get your money back from Beck U.
Maluminse August 22nd, 2014 at 00:45
Just saying no is not a response. Explain.
William Carr September 2nd, 2014 at 10:11
The Second Amendment declares that a Well Regulated Militia is important to the security of a Free State.
Nothing there about overthrowing the Government because your candidate didn’t win.
mea_mark August 22nd, 2014 at 10:36
The ballot box is the way to check government. As long as the people can vote that is what we do. If government tyranny ever gets to the point where we can’t vote or are votes don’t count then the people should look to other solutions. My first option would be shutting down the economy and calling a general strike of everybody, a peaceful non-violent solution. Violence should always be last resort.
JMax August 22nd, 2014 at 12:30
The Second Amendment does not say, “A well-armed citizenry, being necessary to shoot at or threaten by force of arms the duly elected government, the right to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” Articles I and II provide the methods for keeping the government in check.
Maluminse August 22nd, 2014 at 00:27
Im a true blue progressive. I campaigned for Obama which I now regret due to the nsa revelations. (Yes I know he didnt start it) But I digress.
What bafffles me is I always imagined those that stood for the people supported the bill of rights. The Bill of Rights are powers specifically retained to the people. All of them.
Beyond that it also seems like a progressive position to say that people that are protesting government overreaching, like those in Ferguson, should have some method of ultimate defiance/insurance.
The 2nd to me, like the 1st, is a method of government check.
Tommy6860 August 22nd, 2014 at 00:38
But it’s interesting when people ignore the Articles of the Constitution. This sheriff is not the Constitution unto himself, it’s why we elect lawmakers by the will of the people. Men like this nutcase, are no different than the dictators they claim to protect us from.
Maluminse August 22nd, 2014 at 00:49
Well it is an interesting point they make. They are elected leaders. But I also agree police choosing which laws to enforce is problematic.
But posit this. At what point does the sheriff, the soldier, reject his orders and defend the people?
Imagine 1943. Your a German soldier. Or Egypt in the past few years. You see the people being abused. At some point it is an elected or government official which rejects the powers that be that takes the side of the people.
If the democratic system has failed when does the soldier defend the man and not the throne?
tiredoftea August 22nd, 2014 at 00:54
The democratic system hasn’t failed But, may if people like this sheriff and the fringe crazies he follows are permitted to pick and choose the laws they will enforce.
Maluminse August 22nd, 2014 at 01:00
Thats not the question. The question is when does the soldier/sheriff reject the system?
I vehemently disagree that the system has not failed. Any assemblance of democracy is gone. Taken over by mass megapoly corporations and their lobbyists. Media is controlled by a handful of corporations. Dem and Rep are the same party.
I digress.
Question remains: When does the sailor preach mutiny?
granpa.usthai August 22nd, 2014 at 07:42
Dems and Reps are by no stretch of the imagination anywhere close to being the same. Rep’s believe in ‘the rule of law’ like in Nevada – ‘the rule of the white racist law by the force of arms’, Dems on the other hand realize it for what it was – a failed coupe by white racist terrorist thugs – supported politically by the white republicans and their contacts in the us military. No way are those idiots that stupid without having heavy political cover – enough to allow them to merely walk away fully armed armed under the ‘rule of republican white racist law’.
John Tarter August 22nd, 2014 at 08:48
The coup happened when Obama got elected, aided and abetted by the main stream media who did not thoroughly vet this leftist communist community agitator. A man so far out of his league it isn’t funny.
grrace August 22nd, 2014 at 14:57
Wow. So, you must have rrreally hated Bush.
William Carr September 2nd, 2014 at 10:13
There’s your problem. Falling for the myth that Dems and Republicans are the “same party”.
Your logic is impaired.
Tommy6860 August 22nd, 2014 at 00:56
Only if when that soldier, (or if this sheriff) in fact actually understands the meaning of what the purpose of the Constitution is. From what I’ve read he doesn’t, and he’s more dangerous. But since you brought up the “German Soldier”, they wound up following a former soldier who used the same premise as this sheriff did, his name was Adolf Hitler. Again, the Articles of the Constitution, when they are disallowed, then you have a point, but that make the sheriff as dangerous as the government official he so detests.
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 02:34
Oh please….
mea_mark August 22nd, 2014 at 10:29
When votes don’t count.
tiredoftea August 22nd, 2014 at 00:42
“The 2nd to me, like the 1st, is a method of government check.” Uhh, no. Time to get your money back from Beck U.
Maluminse August 22nd, 2014 at 00:45
Just saying no is not a response. Explain.
William Carr September 2nd, 2014 at 10:11
The Second Amendment declares that a Well Regulated Militia is important to the security of a Free State.
Nothing there about overthrowing the Government because your candidate didn’t win.
mea_mark August 22nd, 2014 at 10:36
The ballot box is the way to check government. As long as the people can vote that is what we do. If government tyranny ever gets to the point where we can’t vote or are votes don’t count then the people should look to other solutions. My first option would be shutting down the economy and calling a general strike of everybody, a peaceful non-violent solution. Violence should always be last resort.
JMax August 22nd, 2014 at 12:30
The Second Amendment does not say, “A well-armed citizenry, being necessary to shoot at or threaten by force of arms the duly elected government, the right to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.” Articles I and II provide the methods for keeping the government in check.
granpa.usthai August 22nd, 2014 at 00:28
and now we know why no white racist terrorist thug can do any more wrong than members of the 3rd Reich. F -em and any NRA laws that attempt to restrict Black Americans from defending their life or the lives of their families.
Tommy6860 August 22nd, 2014 at 00:45
Yep and what this sheriff is doing by claiming he’s upholding the Constitution by ignoring government laws, is unlawful. This based on the fact that he is a government official, placed there by the laws of the elected legislators put in office by the will of the people. Since he is part government, maybe he should learn what the purpose of the Constitution is, that being, to limit the power of government and enumerate what it can do. He is, by de facto admission, violating that premise.
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 02:33
Not to mention that Federal Law trumps county officials from the get go.
granpa.usthai August 22nd, 2014 at 07:47
when they wish to comply.
John Tarter August 22nd, 2014 at 08:42
Get your Obama to stop and maybe everyone else will do so too.
John Tarter August 22nd, 2014 at 08:42
The Third Reich was a socialist entity that’s why they were called NATIONAL SOCIALISTS, you know, where every dictate comes from an all powerful central government. And you know, they also were big on “crony capitalism”, just like our current governing administration.
William Carr September 2nd, 2014 at 10:08
Conservatives are so easily fooled.
The biggest Party in post WWI Germany was the Democratic Socialist Party.
There was no possibility of defeating it from outside, so Hitler’s group infiltrated it.
Hitler did a lot of rabble rousing, and recruited the Brown Shirts; his own rioters who would attack the business or property of anyone he didn’t like.
There was an election, and Hitler lost; he got only about a third of the votes.
But he had that weapon; the Hitler Youth.
So the President of Germany offered Hitler a deal; he could have the minor post of Chancellor if he disbanded the Hitler Youth and agreed that he could NEVER achieve the power of the Presidency.
Hitler turned on the Brown Shirts. But he eventually seized the power of the Presidency.
From that point on, he was running everything and elections no longer mattered.
Nazi Germany became a Police State. There was nothing “Socialist” or “Democratic” about it.
We can SEE this happening in the USA at the State level, as the cops seize more and more power.
As for “Crony Capitalism”, you’re describing Fascist Italy.
That’s what Fascism is, Government controlled by Corporate Power.
granpa.usthai August 22nd, 2014 at 00:28
and now we know why no white racist terrorist thug can do any more wrong than members of the 3rd Reich. F -em and any NRA laws that attempt to restrict Black Americans from defending their life or the lives of their families.
Tommy6860 August 22nd, 2014 at 00:45
Yep and what this sheriff is doing by claiming he’s upholding the Constitution by ignoring government laws, is unlawful. This based on the fact that he is a government official, placed there by the laws of the elected legislators put in office by the will of the people. Since he is part government, maybe he should learn what the purpose of the Constitution is, that being, to limit the power of government and enumerate what it can do. He is, by de facto admission, violating that premise.
M D Reese August 22nd, 2014 at 02:33
Not to mention that Federal Law trumps county officials from the get go.
granpa.usthai August 22nd, 2014 at 07:47
when they wish to comply.
John Tarter August 22nd, 2014 at 08:42
Get your Obama to stop and maybe everyone else will do so too.
John Tarter August 22nd, 2014 at 08:42
The Third Reich was a socialist entity that’s why they were called NATIONAL SOCIALISTS – you know, where every dictate comes from an all powerful central government. And they also were big on “crony capitalism”, just like our current governing administration.
William Carr September 2nd, 2014 at 10:08
Conservatives are so easily fooled.
The biggest Party in post WWI Germany was the Democratic Socialist Party.
There was no possibility of defeating it from outside, so Hitler’s group infiltrated it.
Hitler did a lot of rabble rousing, and recruited the Brown Shirts; his own rioters who would attack the business or property of anyone he didn’t like.
There was an election, and Hitler lost; he got only about a third of the votes.
But he had that weapon; the Hitler Youth.
So the President of Germany offered Hitler a deal; he could have the minor post of Chancellor if he disbanded the Hitler Youth and agreed that he could NEVER achieve the power of the Presidency.
Hitler turned on the Brown Shirts. But he eventually seized the power of the Presidency.
From that point on, he was running everything and elections no longer mattered.
Nazi Germany became a Police State. There was nothing “Socialist” or “Democratic” about it.
We can SEE this happening in the USA at the State level, as the cops seize more and more power.
As for “Crony Capitalism”, you’re describing Fascist Italy.
That’s what Fascism is, Government controlled by Corporate Power.
tiredoftea August 22nd, 2014 at 00:44
“Lewis and other sheriffs, and their supporters, say that puts them in the best position to stand up to gun laws they consider unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to bear arms.” So, in effect, they are choosing to be judges and not law enforcement? What fools these fringies be.
tiredoftea August 22nd, 2014 at 00:44
“Lewis and other sheriffs, and their supporters, say that puts them in the best position to stand up to gun laws they consider unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, which guarantees the right to bear arms.” So, in effect, they are choosing to be judges and not law enforcement? What fools these fringies be.
R J August 22nd, 2014 at 00:45
Just another small nothing of a right wing male, who without his job would have zero power in life
R J August 22nd, 2014 at 00:45
Just another small nothing of a right wing male, who without his job would have zero power in life
Herb Sarge Phelps August 22nd, 2014 at 00:51
This is the trend that has disturbed me for years. Notice it is a rural area. The GOP and FLEA Party are getting to those people and spreading their poison freely, and with poorer schools and lower opportunities, they are ripe for the plucking.
raincheck August 22nd, 2014 at 06:41
“with poorer schools and lower opportunities, they are ripe for the plucking.” Said/thought all across the Country
Shades August 22nd, 2014 at 08:30
Yep, this ignorant yahoos are now spreading the story they can form citizen grand juries and force courts to indict anyone they want, be it the neighbor whose grass is too high or the black guy who thinks he’s president.
Herb Sarge Phelps August 22nd, 2014 at 00:51
This is the trend that has disturbed me for years. Notice it is a rural area. The GOP and FLEA Party are getting to those people and spreading their poison freely, and with poorer schools and lower opportunities, they are ripe for the plucking.
raincheck August 22nd, 2014 at 06:41
“with poorer schools and lower opportunities, they are ripe for the plucking.” Said/thought all across the Country
Shades August 22nd, 2014 at 08:30
Yep, this ignorant yahoos are now spreading the story they can form citizen grand juries and force courts to indict anyone they want, be it the neighbor whose grass is too high or the black guy who thinks he’s president.
R J August 22nd, 2014 at 00:54
Stanford Prison Experiment Part 1: http://youtu.be/S9LvVTLfDRE
R J August 22nd, 2014 at 00:56
Stanford Prison Experiment Part 2: http://youtu.be/2KCtRXmlaQs
R J August 22nd, 2014 at 01:01
Stanford Prison Experiment Part 3: http://youtu.be/QzdvL2kyJXQ
R J August 22nd, 2014 at 01:03
Stanford Prison Experiment Part 4: http://youtu.be/2AUmUugpDdg
R J August 22nd, 2014 at 00:54
Stanford Prison Experiment Part 1: http://youtu.be/S9LvVTLfDRE
R J August 22nd, 2014 at 00:56
Stanford Prison Experiment Part 2: http://youtu.be/2KCtRXmlaQs
R J August 22nd, 2014 at 01:01
Stanford Prison Experiment Part 3: http://youtu.be/QzdvL2kyJXQ
R J August 22nd, 2014 at 01:03
Stanford Prison Experiment Part 4: http://youtu.be/2AUmUugpDdg
Nabil Al-Murabit August 22nd, 2014 at 01:33
Hmmmm, I wonder how many well armed Blacks live in this douche’s county. I’m guessing there aren’t too many, because if there were, he’d wouldn’t have that position
Nabil Al-Murabit August 22nd, 2014 at 01:33
Hmmmm, I wonder how many well armed Blacks live in this douche’s county. I’m guessing there aren’t too many, because if there were, he’d wouldn’t have that position
Steve Withers August 22nd, 2014 at 03:15
You wish the 4th Amendment was as staunchly defended….but no.
MiAtheistGal August 22nd, 2014 at 06:53
I wish any of the other amendments were defended as staunchly.
Steve Withers August 22nd, 2014 at 03:15
You wish the 4th Amendment was as staunchly defended….but no.
MiAtheistGal August 22nd, 2014 at 06:53
I wish any of the other amendments were defended as staunchly.