By Dr. Harold Pease
All over the land, from California to New York and from Florida to Alaska, thousands gathered on February 23, to remind the federal government that the “right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” They are saying, in effect, “Back off Mr. President with your executive orders and Congress with your proposed new laws, you are on sacred Constitutional soil.” The establishment press was weak, almost non-existent, in its coverage. The 124 cities participating largely had to enter their own pictures of their event on the Internet to get coverage—so weak was press response. Seventeen such rallies were held in California alone, a state already sensitive to the loss of gun right freedoms and threatened with more of the same by a largely hostile democratically controlled State Legislature. Bakersfield, California alone had 2,000 participants with standing room only. Late participants had to park a half-mile away to find a place but they were willing, so angry were they at both their state and federal governments threatening their “God given rights.”
Angry elected county sheriffs too are continuing their rise against Congress and the President for the same reason. “Leave the Bill of Rights alone.” Their movement, starting in mid-January, also has yet to break through the unsympathetic establishment press. In a previous column, “Sheriffs vow to Defend 2nd Amendment from Federal Government!!,” we provided breaking news that still is largely unbroken. Simply stated, elected county sheriffs (each county in the United States has but one) have put their names to a document vowing to defend their citizens from the federal government if federal agents begin enforcing gun laws outside the limits of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution. Utah’s Sheriffs’ Association went as far as to say, “we are prepared to trade our lives for the preservation of its traditional interpretation.”
As of February 14, nine state sheriff’ associations have signed similar pledges to defend their citizens from either Barack Obama’s unconstitutional executive orders (remember the president cannot make law) or any gun legislation coming out of Congress that, in effect, damages this constitutional amendment. Those states refusing to comply are, as they came on board: Utah, Florida, Georgia, Colorado, New Mexico, Nebraska, Wyoming, Indiana, and the most recent Illinois.
Even the California State Sheriffs Association’s letter to Vice President Joe Biden was stronger than had been expected, putting him, and the federal government, on notice. “It is the position of CSSA, in accordance with the Constitution of the United States and the statutes of the State of California, that law-abiding persons who meet the established requirements have the right to acquire, own, possess, use, keep and bear firearms. This right shall not be infringed.”
By Mid-February, 336 elected county sheriffs have signed pledges that they will not enforce any unconstitutional gun control laws or executive orders, seventeen of them in California. This kind of resistance is unheard of and more counties and state associations are expected to follow.
Some states are preparing for the worst should the federal government become even more tyrannical on enforcing unconstitutional gun laws or decrees. Wyoming’s new “Firearm Protection Act,” threatens federal officials with up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines if convicted of attempting to enforce unconstitutional statutes or decrees infringing on the gun rights of Wyoming citizens. Reportedly, Missouri and Texas have similar legislation pending.
According to the Patriot Newswire, Police Chief Mark Kessler of Gilberton Borough, Pennsylvania wants citizens as a reserve force to defend against federal agents coming into his jurisdiction. There would be extensive training required for the voluntary reserve unit and it would not have arrest capabilities but would be called in on short notice should he need it to protect his citizens. They would provide their own firearms.
Obviously we are riding a wave of resentment at, and fear of, the federal government, and with good reason. All this would go away if the federal government would return to the limits placed upon it in the U.S. Constitution. Pray that it will. One note of interest, the county sheriff is the only elected law enforcement agent in the United States. As such he has more authority than the FBI or ATF in his county or any other bureaucratic law enforcement agent.
Dr. Harold Pease is an expert on the United States Constitution. He has dedicated his career to studying the writings of the Founding Fathers and applying that knowledge to current events. He has taught history and political science from this perspective for over 25 years at Taft College. To read more of his weekly articles, please visit www.LibertyUnderFire.org.