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The vast majority of county sheriffs in Washington have signed a new letter promising to uphold your constitutional rights. But it is up to the sheriffs to decide what is constitutional and whats not.

Its an anxious time for those who are worried about retaining their gun rights. An anxious time for those unhappy that COVID-19 safety rules may restrict individual freedoms.

Chelan County Sheriff Brian Burnett led the effort that got 37 of Washingtons 39 sheriffs to sign a letter pledging to abide by their oath of office.

The message we want to send is, one, is we want to minimize their fear, and we want to put them at ease, he said.

In the letter, the sheriffs publicly reassert our individual and collective duty to defend all of the constitutional rights of our citizens.

But during the pandemic, some sheriffs have refused to enforce COVID-19 safety mandates. And in the past few years, some sheriffs have publicly announced they wont enforce newly passed gun safety laws.

The sheriffs letter explicitly calls out gun rights, stating, We individually and collectively pledge to do everything within our power to steadfastly protect the Second Amendment and all other individual rights.

Burnett said constitutionality should be decided by the courts, but there could be a time down the road where the sheriffs may have to decide as the chief law enforcement executives of their counties that they would say this is what we are or we arent going to enforce.

KIRO 7 TV spoke with constitutional lawyer Jeffery Needle about the letter.

Its dangerous because it shows an extreme bias by the sheriffs of Washington state in favor of Second Amendment rights, he said.

Needle said the letter implies that sheriffs have power that the law does not give them.

They dont have some sort of unilateral power to determine which legislation is constitutional, which is not. And enforce only those that they believe are constitutional, he added.

Burnett said there was no one piece of legislation that prompted the letter. This year, the Legislature passed a new law banning the open carry of weapons at permitted demonstrations.

Only the sheriffs of King and Kitsap counties did not sign the letter. Both are in transitional roles. The King County Sheriff will become an appointed position at the end of the year.

Written by KIRO 7 TV reporter Essex Porter

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Letter from 37 Washington sheriffs letter pledges support of 2nd Amendment, other rights - MyNorthwest.com

Treasure Coast Newspapers

July 13 was a historic day as Indian River County became the 45th Florida county to approve a resolution designating IRC a "sanctuary" for the Second Amendment, a public expression of their unequivocal support for the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. With enthusiastic support from Sheriff Eric Flowers and most of the commissioners, Moss consented with her silence by "not objecting."

Given Moss's apparent disdain for her constituents, her lackluster "support" of the resolution was no surprise. Moss was the only commissioner who has repeatedly disrespected her constituents by missing scheduled meetings. In May or June, we scheduled meetings with all five county commissioners on the same day to discuss our resolution, and to present to them nearly 1,500 signatures from IRC residents, gathered over the previous year in support of the resolution. Moss must be busier than the rest of the commissioners since she was the only no-show.

No explanation or apology was offered by Commissioner Moss. Not wishing to embarrass her publicly, I refrained from mentioning her lack of decorum at the public meeting on July 13, and in good faith offered to show her the signed petitions, which she had not previously witnessed due to her own malfeasance. When she insisted on keeping them overnight, I reluctantly obliged, explaining that the petitioners did not wish their information to be shared or made public. When she said Wednesday was too soon, I offered to pick them up on Thursday, to which she agreed.

After repeated attempts to reach Moss, she has not responded or returned the now 1,600 petitions, lent to her in good faith. What is her motive?

Laura Moss has demonstrated by her elitist attitude that she deserves neither respect, nor our trust.

Lamarre Notargiacomo, Vero Beach, supports the Indian River County 2nd Amendment Defense Coalition.

Recently, I had a spirited discussion with a perpetually disgruntled conservative. During our conversation, the subject of critical race theory arose. I challenged him to define CRT, anticipating his answer: Its a liberal attempt to turn children against one another. While this is the conservative definition of CRT, its as simplistic as it is wrongheaded.

Simply stated, CRT is a decades-old academic theory proposing a new approach to examine perpetual racism and exclusion. (Note: Initially, CRT was, in part, a repudiation of liberal responses addressing racist legal practices. It had nothing to do with public school instruction.)

Flustered by my response dismissed by right-wing operatives whove turned CRT into a divisive political strategy he blurted, Youre the laughingstock of the neighborhood (because I challenge right-wing fabrications). CRT has encouraged scholarly conversation about the impact of racism on U.S. history. (Few things frustrate conservatives more than scholarly investigations, which emphasize objective analysis over subjective opinion and political propaganda.)

Furthermore, CRT has led to critical investigations into other cultural issues, including the effects of internalized shame on marginalized minorities. (If youre a privileged white male, youve no idea how destructive that kind of constant, inescapable shame feels.) Unfortunately, CRTs opponents invoke their enormous misunderstanding to frame liberals as unpatriotic buffoons who want to incite white guilt among school-age children. This is demagoguery in its most pernicious form.

In a recent salute to Americas Fourth of July celebrations, NBCs Harry Smith said, Our history is both woeful and wonderful (and) our stories should be shared (and) owned. It endangers no one to understand the sins of our past.

The poet William Blake wrote, The man who never alters his opinion is like standing water, (which) breeds reptiles of the mind.

This is what truth looks like.

Cray Little, Vero Beach

Editor'snote: The following two letters are being rerun in their entirety due to an inadvertentprinting erroron July 22.

Florida is falling into the clutches of another COVID-19 wave and where is our illustrious governor Ron DeSantis? Why, at the border in Texas. He has sent a 50-member troop of law-enforcement officials to the border in support of Texas Gov. Greg Abbots plea for help protecting the border. DeSantis followed to show his support, or maybe get a photo-op with his idol Donald Trump.

Our state is falling into the ravages of this plague and our leader is off the reservation. Please tell me what he can do there as opposed to as what he can do here?

He cares more for showing his and Trumps minions what they want to see than doing what it will take to finally bring this plague to an end. He has abused his powers by selling T-shirts and political material using anti-Fauci slogans.

When will he finally resign himself to care about the people of his state? Both DeSantis and his wife have been vaccinated and have never fostered the same for his constituents. Trump could have put an end to non-vaxxers, as De Santis could have, but both chose to turn their backs.

If more citizens do not get vaccinated, then only non-vaccinated individuals will get sick, and possibly some will die.

Policis must be left out of this pending disaster.

Joseph De Phillips, Stuart

So a political action committee connected to Gov. Ron DeSantis is now selling Dont Fauci My Florida merchandise. Wow. Considering the governors record on COVID-19 I can only say Please America, dont DeSantis my cemetery any more than he already has.

Stephen Osiecki, Vero Beach

Read more here:
Letters to the Editor: July 23, 2021 - TCPalm

WASHINGTON, D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) announced today four amendments she has filed to fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills. The House Rules Committee will consider the amendments next week.

Nortons first amendment would prohibit the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) from using its funds to enforce the prohibition on marijuana in federally assisted housing in jurisdictions where recreational marijuana is legal. The second amendment would prohibit HUD from using its funds to enforce the prohibition on medical marijuana in jurisdictions where medical marijuana is legal. Cannabis Caucus Co-Chairs Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) are cosponsors of both amendments. Earlier this Congress, Norton reintroduced her bill to permit marijuana in federally assisted housing in jurisdictions where it is legal. Norton has also sent a letter to HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge asking her to use executive discretion to not enforce the prohibition on marijuana in federally assisted housing in jurisdictions where it is legal.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development should not be allowed to remove people from their homes or otherwise punish them for following the marijuana laws of their jurisdictions, Norton said. More and more states are moving toward legalization of marijuana, especially of medical marijuana. It is time for HUD to follow the rest of the country and allow marijuana use in federally assisted housing in jurisdictions where it is legal. This should especially be the case for individuals living in jurisdictions that have legalized medical marijuana. Nobody should be evicted for following the law and the advice of their doctors.

Nortons third amendment would direct the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to prioritize efforts to combat airplane and helicopter noise. While the FAA and the aviation industry face many high-profile challenges, aircraft noise, which causes disruption to human health and local economies, is often overlooked. As co-chair of the Quiet Skies Caucus, I have been leading members for many years to get the FAA to take aircraft noise seriously, Norton said. As a result of aircraft noise, Americans suffer from sleep disruption, exacerbation of high blood pressure and other chronic diseases, and learning loss in schools.

Nortons fourth amendment would prohibit the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from using its funds to enter directly into leases for a headquarters. Nortons amendment would effectively return the SECs leasing authority to the General Services Administration (GSA), the federal governments real estate arm. As a former chair and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, Norton led oversight of the SECs real estate activities.

For three decades, the SEC has consistently stumbled through leasing mistakes at great expense to taxpayers, Norton said. It is incredibly inefficient, wasteful, and redundant for the SEC to be involved in the nuances of real estate decisions when GSA exists for that very reason.Like other federal agencies, the SEC should continue to have input and involvement in the decision-making process, but the ultimate real estate authority should lie with GSA, where it belongs. Earlier this Congress, Norton introduced a bill to revoke the SECs leasing authority and return it to GSA.

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Norton Files Amendments to Allow Marijuana Use in Public Housing, Combat Aircraft Noise, and Block SEC from Entering into Lease for Headquarters -...

NRA-ILA filed the opening brief in the Supreme Court case challenging New Yorks restrictive concealed-carry-licensing regime. The case provides the Supreme Court with the opportunity to finally affirm what most statesand common sensetell us: the Second Amendment protects a fundamental, individual right to bear arms for self-defense outside of the home.

For too long, New York has rationed the right to keep and bear arms to a select, chosen few within favored classes. But the Second Amendment guarantees the right of the people to keep and bear arms, not the right of a privileged few.

Despite skyrocketing crime within the Empire State, New York shamefully presumes the peoples unworthiness to defend their own lives and liberty where danger most often exists: outside the home. Those who dare to exercise their Second Amendment rights without first obtaining New Yorks blessing are automatically deemed felons. No other component of the Bill of Rights is treated this wayyet. Thus, the importance of this case and NRA-ILAs opening brief.

As indicated in the brief, NRA-ILA wholeheartedly agrees with the Justices who find it extremely improbable that the Framers understood the Second Amendment to protect little more than carrying a gun from the bedroom to the kitchen. NRA-ILA extends its sincerest thanks to its counsel at Kirkland & Ellis and the Court for its decision to accept this important case.

The case is captioned New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen.

Please stay tuned towww.nraila.orgfor future updates on NRA-ILAs ongoing efforts to defend your constitutional rights.

Read the original:
NRA-ILA Files Opening Brief in Second Amendment Case Before the Supreme Court - NRA ILA

So far, two Iowa counties have passed resolutions saying county employees can't enforce state or federal laws infringing on a person's 2nd Amendment rights.

JOHNSTON, Iowa At CrossRoads Shooting Sports in Johnston, Ethan Settle takes pride in educating people on how to safely use firearms.

"My absolute favorite customer to deal with is that first-time gun owner," Settle said. "And we can talk them through the process of owning that."

The store manager also says employees help educate patrons about their Second Amendment rights.

"We try to take a whole approach to firearms ownership, so you do it responsibly, safely, have fun, but know what your rights and your political duties constitutionally are," Settle said.

Nowadays, the conversations behind the counter at CrossRoads have included the topic of several Iowa counties' move to become 2nd Amendment Sanctuaries.

Recently, both Jasper and Hardin counties signed resolutions to oppose "any legislation that would infringe upon the constitutional right of the people...to keep and bear arms."

That means county employees cannot enforce state or federal laws infringing on a person's Second Amendment rights, but it only applies to future laws--not existing ones.

As several other counties, including Madison, look to sign similar resolutions, Settle applauds Iowans who have spoken directly to their counties' boards of supervisors to advocate for them.

"The issue of sanctuary counties has been around for a number of years now and its really picked up speed since the November election, and just a lot about people being engaged with their local county governments," Settle said. "What I think is cool about it, is its people getting out, voicing their concerns with their local county governments."

The Iowa Firearms Coalition provides templates for Iowa counties to draft resolutions protecting the Second Amendment. Chair Michael Ware says the nonprofit aims to be a resource to educate Iowans on the issue.

"We say, heres the template, heres some working language, these are some [recommendations and] best practices," Ware said. "They're saying, listen. This civil right, we care about. And we know that its one that gets curtailed, chipped away at, and discussed a lot."

A spokesperson for the ACLU of Iowa said it was not clear from the facts available on how the sanctuary status could be interpreted as a civil rights issue.

Moms Demand Action, a group that works to end gun violence, also weighed in on the matter. In an email, they sent the following statement:

Local politicians dont get to pick and choose which laws to enforce. These resolutions are largely symbolic and wont directly interfere with the enforcement of critical gun safety laws its clear that they are nothing more than a political game by local politicians to signal their support for the gun lobby, said Traci Kennedy, Chapter Leader of the Iowa chapter of Moms Demand Action. Instead of passing confusing resolutions, our leaders should focus on solutions that will help keep our families safe and pass laws and resolutions that acknowledge and address the crisis of gun violence in our state.

The Madison County Board of Supervisors will discuss a similar resolution at their meeting July 27.

Continue reading here:
Pro-gun Iowans say 2nd Amendment sanctuaries can keep rights from being 'chipped away at' - Local 5 - weareiowa.com