My position on LEO is no secret. My position on "Government" is no secret.
Nor is it a secret that I refuse to paint entire groups with a single brush - "Government" is not evil, it cannot be evil, because "Government" is merely a label we place upon a group of individuals. Individuals can be evil, but not labels. Individuals can be evil, but not guns or knives or automobiles. I think Jim Klein and I are in lock-step on this point. Every evil comes down to the action of individuals.
So it is with LEO. Not all LEO are evil. I still contend that the vast majority of LEO must violate the Constitutional and Natural Law Rights of Americans every single day they go to work. Those who refuse to do so will be separated from most police departments. The militarization of LEO, especially major-metro departments, is a problem, it represents the "Standing Armies" about which we were warned by our Founders and Framers. Such militarization stands as a direct threat to the Constitution.
But what of so-called "Constitutional Sheriffs" and the deputies they employ in their departments?
Holly and I met Sheriff Dave Resser of Benewah County this afternoon. We went to his office and introduced ourselves to him, because all the man knew about us, the III, the Citadel, III Arms, was what he read in hostile media outlets and fusion center reports. Now he has met us without the filters of media and third-party reports. I have no idea what impression we left the man with today. We also met his number two, under-Sheriff David Jones. We cannot know what impression we left in his mind, either.
But I can tell you what impression with which we left. We left knowing we met an elected Sheriff who believes in the Constitution and the limits our Founding documents place upon people in "Government". We left knowing the man who was elected by the Citizens of Benewah County and Constitutionally charged to enforce the highest laws of the land within the boundaries of his county is a man who takes his role seriously.
The people who voted him into office chose well, in my opinion.
Holly and I informed him of our plans, our goals, the true nature of our PatCom, and we told him where "media" distorted so much information about us personally and several of the people involved in the III, III Arms and the Citadel project. We invited him to come up to our PatCom on Sunday to meet some of our allies, or to send a deputy if he was inclined. We explained our position on racists (which was pretty darned obvious with my lovely wife in the room). I explained my general disposition regarding LEO, especially major-metro LEO. We explained that we had no intention of "challenging" anyone who was legally on the right-of-way through our property - but we did intend to challenge anyone coming onto our property who was not invited. We informed him of a few of the threats we have received as a group and as individuals, and that we would handle it if any materialized.
The Sheriff made it clear that we are Citizens as much as everyone else in the county, and if we were being harassed or threatened, he was a phone call away.
That is good enough for me.
I left having met my first "Constitutional Sheriff". They do exist. If you have a Constitutional Sheriff in your county, take the time to meet him. If you don't have one - get one.
Kerodin
III
I saw Mr. Ressler's quotes in the CDA piece linked at sipsey, and thought they were great. Especially those last 5 words...
ReplyDelete"everybody has a good time." Now there's some ethical philosophy!
Oh, very sorry Mr. RESSER. You'll get senile too, one day!
DeleteUnfortunately the LEO, Sheriff or otherwise, around here more closely resemble the Gestapo than anything else. They never met a checkpoint they didn't like, and all are guilty until proven innocent. The bruises on my friend's arms from last weekend prove it. I hope those pigs are proud of the way they manhandled a 120 lb. woman. Fucking bastards...
ReplyDeleteThe Sheriff and I talked on that very topic. I explained that LEO in our DC area suburb (21 year-old kids, many of them) dress in full BDUs, have a swarm mentality even during a simple traffic stop, and when they want to "talk" it includes a breaching team, stack, shooting of dogs and terrifying of wives. Sheriff Resser assured me that simply isn't how it works here. I gave him my business card and told him if he ever had a problem with me and needed to talk, all he'd have to do is call me and I'd come to his office. I really think he is a low-drama, serious guy.
DeleteHaving said that - he is only one man I have met and spoken with in person. No other LEO in America gets the same level of respect from me, until I am satisfied they have earned it. Each is an individual, and as you say, the overwhelming majority have an "Us versus Them" mindset, and it is institutionalized.
K
We have one running for San Bernardino County - Paul D. Schrader, came in second in the last election, was overlooked by the board of supervisors when the duly elected NON-Constitutional Sheriff of less than six months took a political position in DC, we’re not able to vote ourselves out of what’s coming, just need to know who is on our side.
ReplyDeleteRichard R Deaver
III
Richard: You nailed it - voting alone will never get us out of our current mess, and right now all we can do is identify Friend and Foe, one person at a time.
DeleteK
Was wondering how that meeting would go. Hope to meet the man this weekend. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a plane to catch!
ReplyDeleteIt went well, and we told him you'd probably try to drop in sometime while you are here. We'll work out the details when you get here. Have a good flight!
DeleteKerodin,
ReplyDelete(captaincrunch)
I think we have a decent Sheriff down here in my part of South Texas, Sheriff Jim Kailen.
The Sheriff's office down here seems to be honoring their oath from what I can tell and from others are saying. I have friends that have purchased suppressors and the Sheriff has been signing off on suppressors with no problems (wish we could just go into a store and buy the damn things outright)