"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair."
~ Charles Dickens
This was Dickens' analysis of radical opposites between England and France during the French Revolution. Perhaps America is going through similar extreme contrasts today as a result of our own "Panic-demic" pursuant to the Coronavirus.
Indeed, as Paine penned "These are times that try men's souls." However, instead of a "Tale of Two Cities," perhaps our present crisis is "A Tale of Two Sheriffs" and our analysis takes us to contemporary radical opposites.
On the one hand we have Sheriff Scott Nichols of Franklin County, Maine, who told his Governor that he would not follow her orders to make his county a "Police State." Sheriff Nichols went on to say that he and his officers would not act like "Nazis" but would continue to respect the liberties of all citizens within their jurisdiction.
Conversely, Sheriff Chad Chronister of Hillsborough County, Florida, arrested Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne for conducting church services at a mega-church in Riverview, Florida. Sheriff Chronister claimed that the church gathering was an "unlawful assembly" according to the State's non-essential services rules. Pastor Howard-Browne was booked into jail and then released on bail.
These two sheriffs could not be demonstrating two more extreme contrasts: One siding with American ideals and the U.S. Constitution and the other siding with rules and policies. One stood against Nazi Germany tactics, the other arrested a clergyman for having church.
The CSPOA asks this question to all Americans and the entire world; which sheriff, which lawman would you prefer to have working for you? The First Amendment reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging... the right of the people to peaceably assemble..."
Does Pastor Rodney Howard-Browne have the God-given right to conduct his church according to his conscience and to peaceably assemble? If he does, no crisis can nullify or set aside such rights. If government can suspend our liberty and rights whenever they determine the necessity to do so then is there any law or right that public servants cannot destroy at will? Which is supreme, a rule describing "essential services" or the First Amendment?
Again I ask, which Sheriff do you want in your county?
“One of the most disturbing facts in history is that, in the lifespan of every civilization, there comes a time of crisis when the primal instinct of collective survival overrides all other values.”
~ G. Edward Griffin
At this time we must be vigilant and remember that our Founding Fathers created the best contract between a people and their servant government. This contract has made us the greatest country in history. The further we drift from our Constitution, the closer we come to reestablishing the Tyranny from which we revolted. The continuous and gradual theft of our liberties by opportunistic politicians and an overreacting media is destroying our federation. We agree with voluntary compliance for health and safety, but the solutions now being presented are only causing more problems for Americans today, and will cause even more for our children tomorrow.
The evidence and solutions proffered to arrest and eliminate the Coronavirus come from many different and often conflicting supposed “experts” and leave a confusing melting pot of advice that fails to present a direct path of hope for Americans to cling to. Whatever the facts and numbers are, the “cures” presented are, in many cases, worse than the disease. So, we must focus on the certainty of the Principles of Liberty, including, but not limited to, individual liberty, limited government, enumerated powers, Federalism and state & individual sovereignty.
We can address the majority of these concerns by immediately taking three essential actions:
- Unitedly “appeal to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions.”
- Restore our God-given liberties and civil rights.
- Stop the lock-down and restore the economy.
Regardless of the severity of this current crisis, we demand that the process of governing be carried out in full acknowledgement of the unalienable rights granted by our Creator, holding them sacred as part of the Oath of Office.
Therefore, in order to protect the American people, BE IT RESOLVED that the following abuses will not be allowed or tolerated:
A) Registration of personal firearms under any circumstances.
B) Confiscation of firearms without probable cause, due process, and Constitutionally compliant warrants issued by a local or State jurisdiction.
C) Inspections of Persons or Property without probable cause and constitutionally compliant warrants as required by the 4th Amendment.
D) The detainment or search of Citizens without probable cause and proper due process compliance, or the informed consent of the Citizen.
E) Arrests with continued incarcerations without charges and complete due process, including, but not limited to, public and speedy jury trials.
F) Domestic utilization of our nation’s military or federal agencies operating under power granted under the laws of war against American Citizens.
G) Government infringement on citizens’ basic rights. Those include the right to travel to any public area they wish, and the right to reject medication for any reason.
H) The infringement on parental rights, including the removal of children from their care without probable cause and due process as spelled out in the Bill of Rights. Parents have the exclusive right to choose or deny medical care, education and religious instruction as they deem essential for their children’s welfare.
AND, BE IT FURTHER REAFFIRMED THAT,
“...The Constitution protects us from our own best intentions. It divides power among sovereigns and among branches of government so that we may resist the temptation to concentrate power in one location as an expedient solution to the
crisis of the day
.”
(Mack/Printz v US)
The enforcement of any “law” or policy contrary to the Constitution is criminal and morally reprehensible. We applaud the many sheriffs, peace officers and public servants who have refused to arrest or cite the people who have chosen to go about their lives. We also applaud President Trump for his measured approach in the guidelines he has proposed. Jefferson warned us that in such times, government can reason and persuade, but never use force against the people. President Trump has displayed true leadership in adhering to this principle. The most dangerous thing happening in our nation is not the coronavirus, but the destruction of Liberty, the United States Constitution, and the American Dream.
Therefore, in keeping with our aforementioned goals, we most humbly and fervently implore President Trump to remind us all daily that we are indeed One Nation Under God, by beginning each press conference with a word of prayer. Also, a plea from each of us that not only will he, the President, keep his oath to uphold and defend the United States Constitution, but that he will expect all local, State and Federal public servants to do the same. And finally, that we will keep the April 30
th
deadline and reopen America, end the lockdown and put all Americans back to work. We stand together as friends and neighbors to endure this crisis while simultaneously keeping Liberty and America intact for all future generations.
To this end we mutually pledge to ourselves and our posterity, our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.
