Following the murder of LaVoy Finicum and the continued unconstitutional stand of Harney County Sheriff David Ward, The Oregon State Sheriff’s Association (OSSA) sided with Ward and the federal government against the citizens that gathered at the Malheur Wildlife Refuge Center. Instead of recognizing that the constitution does not give any authority to the federal government or the unconstitutional agencies of the federal government, the OSSA stated that they are recognizing that the federal government has jurisdiction in this matter.
A press release from the OSSA states:
Sheriffs in all 36 Oregon counties have taken an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, the Constitution of Oregon, and the laws thereof. Our oath is our pledge to you, to be conservators of the peace for our citizens, while being respectful of the rights afforded to all of us under the Constitution.
What a great state and nation we live in that allows everyone to express their opinion, hold a sign in protest, lobby for change and live free without fear of retaliation from the government. Our founding fathers created a system of government consisting of three branches: legislative, judicial and executive.
Sheriffs and Sheriff’s Offices are part of the executive branch, charged with enforcement of laws as directed by the legislative branch and interpreted by the judicial branch. Under our system of government, the judicial branch is given the authority to interpret the Constitutionality of our laws. We are a nation of laws, and the executive branch cannot override the laws passed by the legislative branch, nor can we ignore the clear guidance of the judicial branch. There is a process for changing the laws of our great nation and for amending our Constitution, and that process does not involve the armed takeover of government facilities and disruption of an entire community. We fully support the expression of political opinions, and advocating for change within the legal system – that is what sets our country apart from developing countries where the government is changed by an armed takeover.
Recently, men and women have broken the law and encouraged others to take up arms against our local and federal governments. These individuals have used firearms and their interpretation of the Constitution to justify their criminal behavior. These militia men and women have broken into publicly owned buildings, disrespected Native American heritage and intimidated and harassed local residents and officials.
These men and women are asking for change, and we support their right to challenge our government to make change. However, we do not agree with or support any citizen or elected official who would advocate for change in a manner that includes illegal action, threats of violence, or violence against any citizen of the United States.
No one “took up arms “against our local and federal governments.” Free men keep and bear arms, according to the Second Amendment. The only real law breakers are those engaging in usurping the Constitution to claim lands for a criminal federal government, and those who are complicit in that criminality, which now includes the OSSA.
Had David Ward been a constitutional sheriff, he could have ended all of this peacefully by simply removing federal agents from his county with regards to this matter and met with the protesters who had been peaceful all along. In fact, the only shots we know that have been fired have come from federal agents and state police. See the hundreds of shots that were taken at Finicum and the passengers in his vehicle here.
As if this were not enough, Sheriff Brian Wolfe, who is not only the OSSA President, but also the Sheriff of Malheur County issued a statement backing Ward.
“The FBI is in charge of making and implementing plans to end the siege,” he wrote. “The FBI has jurisdiction over the armed takeover of the federal buildings in the refuge, as well as any crimes committed therein. Questions about the standoff should addressed by the FBI, which continues to work diligently towards a peaceful solution.”
I think Sheriff Wolfe needs to read his Constitution to understand what should be considered federal land and buildings. I’ll point him to Ammon Bundy’s excellent schooling of Megyn Kelly on this matter and then point him to what the Constitution actually says about land that the federal government may occupy and for what purposes.
“Meanwhile, Sheriff Ward and other local law enforcement agencies are directly addressing militia activities outside the wildlife refuge — including the well-chronicled harassment and intimidation of residents, federal employees and law enforcement by militia members and associates,” Sheriff Wolfe continued.
Again, Sheriff Wolfe may want to do a little reading of his Constitution to see that the only constitutional law enforcement contained in the Constitution is the citizen militia. Yet, he is talking about them harassing and intimidating? Come on Sheriff! Uphold your oath!
Sheriff Wolfe claims that Ward has “made every effort to peacefully defuse the situation and return normalcy to the residents he serves.” How has he done this? Was it by stepping back and allowing the feds, who have illegally and unconstitutionally claimed a right to the land? I have no witnessed any of these efforts, and I’m not so sure many others have either. I have witnessed him spreading lies, such as “These men came to Harney County claiming to be part of militia groups supporting local ranchers, when in reality these men had alternative motives, to attempt to overthrow the county and federal government in hopes to spark a movement across the United States.”
That claim is not true in any sense. No one has attempted to overthrow anyone. The men that gathered did so on a First Amendment basis to address their government for grievances, grievances that, if Sheriff Ward was a constitutional sheriff, he would know.
I’ve pointed it out before and I’ll point it out again. The Constitution is clear about what land the federal government may possess and for what purposes. Article IV, Section 3, Clause 2 of the US Constitution states:
The Congress shall have Power to dispose of and make all needful Rules and Regulations respecting the Territory or other Property belonging to the United States….”
However, that power is limited immensely in Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 about federal control of land.
To exercise exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever, over such District (not exceeding ten Miles square) as may, by Cession of Particular States, and the Acceptance of Congress, become the Seat of the Government of the United States, and to exercise like Authority over all Places purchased by the Consent of the Legislature of the State in which the Same shall be, for the Erection of Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings– (EMPHASIS ADDED).
Both Sheriff Ward and the OSSA are in violation of their oath in supporting the unconstitutional occupation of the land in Oregon by the usurpation of the federal government and declaring law abiding citizens to be the criminals. Shame on them both!
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