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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThis Colorado sheriff is willing to go to jail rather than enforce a proposed gun law
Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams disagrees so much with a gun bill making its way through the Colorado legislature that he's willing to go to jail rather than enforce it.
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The controversial "red flag" bill aims to seize guns temporarily from people who are deemed to be a threat to themselves or others.
Colorado's state Senate passed the bill Thursday by a single vote, without any Republican support, and the bill is expected to pass the House, possibly this week. With Democratic majorities in both chambers, state Republicans have too few votes to stand in the way.
But more than half of Colorado's 64 counties officially oppose the bill. Many have even declared themselves Second Amendment "sanctuary" counties in protest.
Failure to enforce a court order to seize a person's guns could mean sheriffs being found in contempt. A judge could fine them indefinitely, or even send them to jail to force them to comply.
Reams says it's a sacrifice he'd be forced to make.
Colorado's "extreme risk protection order" bill would allow a family member, a roommate, or law enforcement to petition a judge to take someone's firearms if they are deemed to be a danger to themselves or others.
The push for legislation followed the death of Zack Parrish, the 29-year-old Douglas County sheriff's deputy killed in 2017 by a man with an arsenal of weapons who authorities said had a history of bizarre behavior, including threats to police.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/this-colorado-sheriff-is-willing-to-go-to-jail-rather-than-enforce-a-proposed-gun-law/ar-BBVrgqM?li=BBnb7Kz
DavidDvorkin
(19,505 posts)scrutineer
(1,156 posts)At least as how I understand oaths to work.
Enforce or resign.
DavidDvorkin
(19,505 posts)Just as Trump swore an oath of office. They'll posture and declare themselves men of principle and honor while openly breaking their oaths.
janterry
(4,429 posts)Former sheriff of Liberty County, FL. He released a guy held on a gun charge (because he believes the 2nd amendment superseded the law in the state/his county). Nick was suspended, tried (because he whited out the arrest, - took white out and let the guy walk) and won. He got back $160,000 from the county.
Sadly, the guy he released killed someone with that same gun.
These law enforcement guys (including yours - and Joe Arpaio have all signed a pledge with the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/04/30/the-renegade-sheriffs
scrutineer
(1,156 posts)The Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association is a political organization of local police officials in the United States who believe in an interpretation of the United States Constitution wherein federal and state government authorities are subordinate to local government authority.
So if these sheriffs, all by themselves, decided to declare sanctuary for ISIS and al Qaeda operatives, that would be hunky dory?
Take them all into federal custody now. Right now.
janterry
(4,429 posts)NONE of them, imo, should be in law enforcement. Just signing that document means they can't follow the law.
My guess is part of what happened at the trial, is that Nick looked like such an upstanding guy (former Marine, married to a liberty county native, father of two girls - one with disabilities). No one wanted to convict him.
But they should have. Even Rick Scott (scoundrel that he is) had put him on leave and wanted him fired.
former9thward
(32,128 posts)Should those officials be taken into federal custody now?
bitterross
(4,066 posts)Finch beat the charges because he lives in Trump's America in FL. Just like the Bundy family.
janterry
(4,429 posts)he lost his next election - his wife left him (she's very conservative, too - but I'm guessing those harassment settlements pissed her off - she's a very practical woman, too)
- and he can't get a job working as a sheriff anymore.
He's working as a long-haul trucker.
bitterross
(4,066 posts)He lost because he no longer had the support of his wife's "townie" family. That's the South.
janterry
(4,429 posts)But imo - Nick stepped on a lot of toes in town.
Yes, his wife is well liked. So are their daughters. But really --Nick stepped on a lot of toes once he got that job (an outsider coming in as sheriff). To be honest, I think that's what did it. The deputy that arrested Parrish - he was well liked and I think people in town thought Nick 'did him wrong.'
Add to that Parrish was never known for anything but trouble in town - his arrest for murder surprised....no one.
MyOwnPeace
(16,951 posts)I tend to see police/law enforcement groups supporting efforts to provide more safety and security for their own groups. To do that usually means some increased effort in "gun control."
Gee, who wouldn't want a safer work environment?
UniteFightBack
(8,231 posts)struggle4progress
(118,379 posts)ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)Fire them, lock them up, fine them. Fucking Nazis!
friendly_iconoclast
(15,333 posts)NC sheriffs now oppose mandate to help ICE but its closer to becoming law
The bill would require law enforcement agencies across the state to comply with detainer requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement...
...After the House vote, Speaker Tim Moores office published a news release that included quotes from Rep. Destin Hall, a Caldwell County Republican.
These sanctuary sheriffs are simply putting partisan politics ahead of public safety, Hall said.
ProudLib72
(17,984 posts)"The law" = gun law
friendly_iconoclast
(15,333 posts)The (proposed) state law in NC might criminalize them for not obeying ICE detainers.
librechik
(30,678 posts)the frontier is still alive! Actually it's a zombiefied relic of no-when. Sigh.