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Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin

(108,414 posts)
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 02:23 PM Mar 2019

This 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.

-snip-

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

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This Colorado sheriff is willing to go to jail rather than enforce a proposed gun law (Original Post) Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin Mar 2019 OP
Lock him up. DavidDvorkin Mar 2019 #1
OK. He swore an oath, but, ah, well only sometimes? Then he didn't swear an oath. scrutineer Mar 2019 #2
Indeed DavidDvorkin Mar 2019 #14
You should read this article about Nick Finch janterry Mar 2019 #3
Just skimming the article, but so far from wiki scrutineer Mar 2019 #8
There are hundreds of them across the country. janterry Mar 2019 #12
What about sanctuary cities? former9thward Apr 2019 #17
That's not a cautionary tale, it's reinforcement. bitterross Mar 2019 #9
Yes, he beat the charges. But janterry Mar 2019 #10
He didn't lose because people thought he was wrong. bitterross Mar 2019 #11
You are right it's small town politics janterry Mar 2019 #13
Time and time again MyOwnPeace Mar 2019 #4
I saw the tail end of this interview. Yes I guess it's time for some 'sacrifices'. nt UniteFightBack Mar 2019 #5
"When we take guns away from dangerous crazy people, it hurts the guns' feelings" struggle4progress Mar 2019 #6
Fire all police who refuse to enforce the law ProudLib72 Mar 2019 #7
"Fire all police who refuse to enforce the law" Really?: friendly_iconoclast Apr 2019 #15
Yes really. ProudLib72 Apr 2019 #16
Do you feel the same way about the 5 sheriffs in North Carolina that may lose their jobs? friendly_iconoclast Apr 2019 #19
Welcome to Colorful Colorado! librechik Apr 2019 #18

scrutineer

(1,156 posts)
2. OK. He swore an oath, but, ah, well only sometimes? Then he didn't swear an oath.
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 02:37 PM
Mar 2019

At least as how I understand oaths to work.

Enforce or resign.

DavidDvorkin

(19,505 posts)
14. Indeed
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 04:39 PM
Mar 2019

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)
3. You should read this article about Nick Finch
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 02:38 PM
Mar 2019

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)
8. Just skimming the article, but so far from wiki
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 03:06 PM
Mar 2019
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)
12. There are hundreds of them across the country.
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 03:15 PM
Mar 2019

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.

 

bitterross

(4,066 posts)
9. That's not a cautionary tale, it's reinforcement.
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 03:06 PM
Mar 2019

Finch beat the charges because he lives in Trump's America in FL. Just like the Bundy family.

 

janterry

(4,429 posts)
10. Yes, he beat the charges. But
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 03:11 PM
Mar 2019

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)
11. He didn't lose because people thought he was wrong.
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 03:14 PM
Mar 2019

He lost because he no longer had the support of his wife's "townie" family. That's the South.

 

janterry

(4,429 posts)
13. You are right it's small town politics
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 03:24 PM
Mar 2019

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)
4. Time and time again
Sun Mar 31, 2019, 02:42 PM
Mar 2019

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?

 

friendly_iconoclast

(15,333 posts)
15. "Fire all police who refuse to enforce the law" Really?:
Sat Apr 6, 2019, 06:24 PM
Apr 2019
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article228789969.html

NC sheriffs now oppose mandate to help ICE – but it’s closer to becoming law

...House Bill 370 won approval from the state House on Wednesday just hours after the association announced its opposition.

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 Moore’s 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.
 

friendly_iconoclast

(15,333 posts)
19. Do you feel the same way about the 5 sheriffs in North Carolina that may lose their jobs?
Sat Apr 6, 2019, 10:12 PM
Apr 2019

The (proposed) state law in NC might criminalize them for not obeying ICE detainers.

librechik

(30,678 posts)
18. Welcome to Colorful Colorado!
Sat Apr 6, 2019, 07:01 PM
Apr 2019

the frontier is still alive! Actually it's a zombiefied relic of no-when. Sigh.



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