County sheriffs, police officers, pastors and attorneys fighting Covid19 lockdowns, business closings, mask mandates and unconstitutional gun laws met in Lynchburg, Virginia on September 30 to share their strategies. The constitutional training conference was sponsored by the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA) founded by former sheriff Richard Mack. US citizens were also invited to attend to learn more about how their elected sheriff is the first line of defense in their county who fight for the constitutional rights of their constituents and what they can do to preserve liberty.
Many
remember Mack successfully sued, along with six other sheriffs, the federal
government on the grounds that the Brady bill violated the US Constitution and
destroyed state sovereignty. As he puts it, “I sued the Clintons and lived to
tell about it.”
“I feel this is the most
important meeting in America since the constitutional convention,” he said of
the conference. “The people are the rightful masters of Congress, legislators
and courts. It is our duty to fight those who would pervert it. There are so
many traitors in our midst (for instance, the “covid dictator governors”) and
we must make them irrelevant.”Robinson, David E.Best
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What
can concerned citizens do? Take action in the countryside of America, county by
county, one sheriff at a time. Work with chiefs of police, talk to health
departments, and activate the churches.
Sheriff
Dar Leaf of Barry County, Michigan cited the words “a well-regulated militia”
in the Constitution. “A militia existed before the government did,” he said.
“We are the chief law enforcement officers in our county. People look to us.
Children are not getting this information.” Referring to the policemen who
tased, handcuffed and arrested Alecia Keys in Logan, Ohio for not wearing a
mask as she watched her son play school football, “Those guys never read the
Constitution.”
“We
are the last stand,” said Sheriff Mike Carpinelli of Lewis County, New York. He
didn’t go along with Governor Cuomo who signed the New York SAFE (Secure
Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement) Act, noting New York has the highest gun
homicides in the US. When citizens rallied at the state capital, Carpinelli
said he was the only sheriff there. The other sheriffs told him, “Look kid, it
was nice knowing you.” But he was reelected. When he objected to the “covid
edicts passed by the governor” he was warned “I am afraid your philosophy is
affecting the men of your agency.” He stood his ground. “I stand with strength,
not because of my badge, but because of God and Christ.”
Sheriff Scott Jenkins of
Culpepper, Virginia, in his third term serving a population of 5,200 said,
“Sheriffs are one of America’s last hopes.” He could not disagree more with
Second Amendment restrictions banning assault weapons. He asked conference
participants if they could recall incidents where assault weapons were used in
a crime. No hands went up. He asked if anyone could remember one being used in
a defensive act and several hands were raised. “The goal is to start with
weapons they say are crazy.” Americans have a right to gather and assemble, he
said, and covid does not change this, yet law enforcement are charging people
in parking lots. “It’s a sad day in America.” He said thousands of citizens in
his county have been screened and vetted who have concealed carried permits but
he cannot think of one incident where any of them have committed a crime. Yet
the state legislature wanted to make them criminals. He said he had the right
to swear in a posse and auxiliary deputy. “I am a sheriff thinking day and
night what I can do to serve the citizens of my county. Their rights are being
treaded upon.” The right to keep and bear arms “is a God given right, a law of
nature. Any creature will defend their life. It’s up to us to keep it.” Most
sheriffs started as police, he said. “Don’t focus on the day you won’t have a
paycheck or title. Think of the principles and honor to serve. We have sheriffs
elected by the people who make their own determination and not the mayor who
decides what is right for people in a crisis. We take our oath seriously.”Best
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Sheriff
J.J. Watts of Eureka County, Nevada said, “We must not allow criminals to allow
legislators to make it illegal to own firearms.” He said he refuses to
participate while his citizens are turned into criminals. He filed a lawsuit
challenging implementation of Nevada’s “atrocious” red flag law which violates
numerous amendments. Although his county had 10 covid “cases” covid regulations
for mandatory masks, shutting churches down and social distancing were imposed.
He and the citizens he represents are pushing back on them. “No emergency
declaration can take our rights from us. You have a right to assemble. It is up
to each one of us to protect them.” He said Sheriff Mark Lamb of Pinal County,
Arizona also has taken this stance.
Sheriff
Bob Summers, who has 50 years of law enforcement experience, said an anti-gun
law was passed in his state and he would not enforce it. “I don’t give a hell
what my governor has to say.” The law restricted people from buying
semi-automatic weapons until they are 21. Yet the same individuals can be sent
to war at 18. He pointed out the injustice of the law charging the owner with a
crime committed by a thief who had stolen his weapon. BLM and Antifa are
terrorist organizations, he said, and that the governor and mayor support
terrorism. “We are there to protect the First Amendment as long as protestors
are peaceful. When they step out of line they are going to gated community
called a jail. “ He said he has a posse of about 150 citizens and the number is
increasing to 250. “Some may think it is a militia, but people get scared about
that word. We have a right to bear arms and protect our homes.” Members of his
posse go through a background check, are sworn into office, wear a patch, blue
jeans and a uniform shirt, and on their private vehicles is a placard saying
Neighborhood Crime Watch. The “outstanding volunteerism” includes six pilots
who fly at no cost to citizens, and fire spotting looking for smoke, he said.
They are allowed to carry firearms after instruction for liability reasons. “We
can’t run from liability, we have to face it and minimize it. The posse is told
not to harass protestors, but that they have arrest authority under their badge
if people get violent.” He said he had the resources to do the job – 19
sworn deputies in reserve with total authority to arrest. “If BLM and Antifa
show up in my county I have fire trucks with high pressure water hoses and I
will knock them right off their feet.” He said BLM has had four protests in his
county but they were peaceful. “If I put a call out I could have 600-700
people.”
“I am
a constitutional sheriff and encourage those of you who are not to become one,”
he said. “We need to be constitutional sheriffs and our primary job is to
protect citizen’s liberty.”
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Senator Amanda Chase said she
was the only Virginia state legislator to not comply with wearing a mask. In
response, a plastic shield was placed around her desk. “This is my safe space
from liberals,” she said. She is running for governor to replace Democratic
Governor Ralph Northam. She is known as the Annie Oakley of the Virginia
Senate. “I was assaulted on three occasions because I am a loud-mouthed
conservative. I got tired of being the silent majority and decided to speak
out. I am one ticked off mom and that is why I ran.” She said she has one child
getting a good education at Liberty University but many other children are
being indoctrinated. “I attend support the blue rallies, and there has been all
out attack on constitution. We are at war.” The Democratic Party has been
hijacked in Virginia and there is an all-out attack on 2nd Amendment
rights. “The status quo does not work anymore. We need elected leaders to do
something to stand up to domestic terrorists who want to destroy our country.
We are freedom loving people, not racists.” As for the call to defund the
police she asks, “When has it ever been funded? Police, how can you defend
something that hasn’t been funded? We train them, they go somewhere else to get
higher pay. We need best practices so law enforcement can do their jobs they
have been trained to do. It is an embarrassment what Virginia pays law
officers. Law enforcement must be funded through the regular budget. Deputies
earn $32,000 a year with a family of four which qualifies them for public
assistance. This is an embarrassment and unacceptable, no wonder we have
shortages in counties across Virginia. We need to give law enforcement the
tools to do what they are trained to do. As for the police reform bill, “I am
against taking away qualified immunity. They have said it is OK to lessen the
offense to misdemeanor. You are empowering criminals. We need to take politics
out of policing.” Sen. Dick Saslaw threatened to deny sheriffs a raise if they
did not enforce the governor’s executive orders and unconstitutional laws
against the Second Amendment. “This is the time to have courage. Constitutional
officers must resist this all-out attack on law-abiding citizens, whether on
masks or unconstitutional gun law. We must protect the US Constitution.”
Sheriff
of the year awards were given to Richard Vaughn of Grayson County, Virginia and
Scott Nichols of Franklin County, Maine.
Mack
gave an historical presentation about the founders and constitutional rights.
He said a posse could also be called a Community of Safety Minutemen. He
assists others around the country of any creed or race seeking strategies to
fight covid regulations or unconstitutional gun laws. The best way to combat
viruses, he said, is with vitamins C and D and whole food plant-based
probiotics.
Bob
Good, running for Congress in the 5th District of Virginia, warned the
Democratic Party is trying to take away qualified immunity, which grants
government officials performing discretionary functions immunity from civil
lawsuits unless the plaintiff shows the official violated “clearly established
statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have
known.”
Sheriff Scott Nichols of
Franklin County, Maine refused to enforce the order by the governor banning
anyone from entering the county. He said stopping vehicles and asking drivers
and passengers their purpose for entering the county would put his officers at
risk. “We will not be setting up a police state,” he posted on his Facebook
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Conference
participants were given copies of “The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates: A
Proper Resistance to Tyranny and a Repudiation of Unlimited Obedience to Civil
Government” by Matthew J. Trewhella, a book explaining the intent of the US
Constitution.
Mack
showed a clip of a deputy sheriff explaining to TSA airport workers that they
are not violating the law to tell people not to go through body scanners. Mack
has been unfairly smeared as a racist who advocates violence. He cited Rosa
Parks and Martin Luther King, Jr. as examples of Americans who engaged in civil
disobedience based on their beliefs. “Allowing citizens to be frustrated and
abused….do you think that it is not going to get violent? It will.” He cited a
no knock incident where a swat team was trying to collect the unpaid student
loan of his former wife. “Federal bureaucrats want to join in this. This should
never happen in America.”
“There
are two types of laws: just and unjust,” said Mack. “I would be the first to
advocate obeying just laws. One has not only a legal but a moral responsibility
to obey just laws. Conversely one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust
laws.” The Nuremburg trial defense of “I was just following orders” does not
justify following unjust covid regulations or gun laws. The Brady bill called
sheriffs CLEOs – Chief Law Enforcement Officers – and selected them to enforce
the law. He said he is helping pastors open their churches and mentioned how
Rodney-Howard Browne was arrested by his sheriff for conducting a church
service and the arrest of citizens all over America for not wearing a mask.
“How could we pretend everything is fine? Don’t tell me you are shutting my
business down and taking away my freedom and that it is for my own good. We
will unite in this holy cause of liberty. Let your governors know the
constitution in this county will be adhered to, enforced and loved.”
Michael
Peroutka, former county commissioner, constitutional attorney and presidential
candidate, pointed out Thomas Jefferson said the purpose of securing your
liberty is so you can protect your health. He cited Maryland Governor Hogan’s
misuse of intended legislation. Peroutka said gun laws are acts of pretended
legislation and that the law is following your oath. Article I of the Maryland Constitution
states all rights come from the people and that no inherent authority comes
from lockdowns and Hogan has broken his contract with the people. If he
suspends the Constitution, he suspends his own authority. By declaring some
businesses to be non-essential and unlawfully closing churches, he is depriving
the rights of his people. “If I could address law enforcement officers I would
say you did not swear allegiance to the governor. Use your police power to
protect the people.”
“For
a sheriff to be successful he has to know the truth and be able to distinguish
between intended legislation and law, must know he is right, and be backed up
with a citizenry who understands these things,” he concluded.
Pastor
Ernie Sanders said he kept his church in Newbury, Ohio open since March and his
congregation did not wear masks. Regarding Romans 13 which many pastors cite as
a justification to always obey the government, he said the word God was changed
to government. On masks which he said does not guarantee spreading a virus,
“When you put one on you are denying the image of God.”
Sheriff
Richard Vaughan of Grayson County, Virginia who predicts gun control measures
would be introduced in the legislature in the spring, plans to identify people
to run for office who support law enforcement and the Second Amendment. “You
must stare legislators in the face to make a difference.”
Roger
Morningstar, Police Chief of Morton City, Washington, has refused to enforce
mandates to wear masks. Antifa posted on social media they were planning to
attend a City Hall meeting to demand the recall of Morningstar. “The covid
mandates chip away at our constitutional rights and educating people on their
rights is our duty.” His teaching constitutional law to area youths and
enacting a replica of Trump Tower on his front lawn resulted in hatred and
attacks from the left. The City Council planned to meet to fire the Air Force
veteran and Army National Guard member, but when 500 people showed up to
support him, the council dropped the matter.
Steve Bukala, Police Chief of
Lowell City, Michigan unfortunately was fired for supporting the 2nd Amendment.
He got a call two days after the riots in Grand Rapids from four citizens who
said they were going to carry long guns to deter any planned violence. Bukala
told them if they saw anything to not engage but to call him. Bukala posted
this on Facebook and informed the media. “I was activating our militia. I
didn’t even know I was doing that.” Anonymous complaints from outside of Lowell
City posted on Reddit. The city hired a PR firm and he was called into the City
Manager’s office with the mayor and an attorney and told to resign or he would
be fired. The City Manager said he had “committed conduct unbecoming for an
officer.” After 24 years, Bukala was five months away from retirement and is
now finished with law enforcement.
Katherine
Henry, Bukala’s attorney, said she would fight a long battle for him. Covid
awakened her spirit to fight against tyranny. She warned “We are living in a
time when at the governor’s stroke of a pen, criminal actions like terrorism
are being protected.” She said in law school she was taught the Constitution is
a growing, living document. She had to do her own research to learn there is no
such thing as case law and that “there is no basis for the government to
exercise any authority related to public health.” Emergencies do not increase
the government’s power, she said, and the government exists to protect our
rights, even the unenumerated ones. Article 6, the supremacy clause, states the
Constitution is the supreme law of the land. Unconstitutional acts are not laws
and oaths must be kept. She cited Article 4 Section 4 of the Constitution: When
the government steps outside of the law, they have lost their authority. “Hold
your elected officials accountable, do your part, read and study your state
constitutions,” she said.
Pastor
Selby Volpe said his Kars Creek Baptist Church never closed.
Pastor
David Whitney said his Cornerstone Evangelical Free Church in Annapolis did not
close. “Morality is indispensable,” he said, citing the need to recapture the
sacred nature of oaths which are made to God. “Every tin horned dictator” need
the external controls imposed on them by individuals keeping their oaths.
Retired
officer Rick Dalton, CSPOA also spoke. He has noted that militarism has crept
into contemporary training of recruit officers along with the idea that cops
are better than the citizens and must supervise them. Every officer’s training
should include principles from the General Orders Manual.
Ginny
Garner is a writer, editor, researcher, and avid passionate music lover. She
took the red pill many years ago and has been an avid reader of Lew’s website
for the last 22-23 years. Write her at msmaverick@comcast.net.
