One way to know a government is passing not just bad laws but stupid laws is when law enforcement leaders, police chiefs and sheriffs announce they will refuse to enforce them. When taking such a stance, they most often cite their obligations to defend the U.S. and/or their state constitutions.
Refusing to enforce or obey laws they don’t like may be routine for today’s neo-leftist politicians, but it’s anything but routine for law enforcement. And now, in leftist-run states, passing stupid laws is becoming common.
The latest stupid law isn’t a new one. California has passed a similar law (SB 54, California Values Act, i.e. Sanctuary State Law). But now Washington state is joining their socialist sister state in protecting illegal immigrants at the expense of U.S. citizens and legal immigrants.
Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich is the latest top cop to take a stand against another stupid state law. According to KREM.com, the sheriff says, “I have news for the governor and AG. We are not going to stop helping our federal partners enforce the law.”
And what about His Imperial Magnificence, Governor Jay Inslee? He’s the man who signed the diktat, “Senate Bill 5497: Establishing a statewide policy supporting Washington state’s economy and immigrants’ role in the workplace.” This mouthful of a title is becoming known as Washington’s “sanctuary state law.” Notice the state’s use of “immigrants” sans illegal in the title?
Despite the governor’s tremendous gravitas, Sheriff Knezovich seems unconcerned. When asked about reprisals from Governor Inslee and AG Bob Ferguson —the state’s Trump-deranged Attorney General— for not enforcing the new law, the sheriff said, “I look forward to their trying.”
The governor issued a statement in support of the sanctuary state law. This is my interpretation: Governor Inslee will not be complicit in helping President Trump protect America’s southern border with Mexico. Okay, he didn’t say those words, but my interpretation describes his sentiments.
Sheriff Knezovich is on solid ground. Federal law supersedes state law and should be enforced. In fact, law enforcement officers swear oaths to do just that—enforce the U.S. Constitution as the supreme law of the land. A state governor or political party cannot pass state laws that subvert U.S. laws or the Washington state constitution.
Not even if they find those laws inconvenient to their political agenda. The state also cannot order state, county, and municipal officials not to obey federal laws or the state constitution. That’s sort of a big duh, isn’t it? How can any democratic-republic survive under such anarchy?
Implementing a law that infringes on federal and state constitutional law is not a first for the neo-Democrat, radical governor, who is also one among the glut of sub-1%ers (I thought I’d be generous. He’s actually at 0% national polling) vying for the Democratic Party presidential nomination. He’s proven himself an illegal immigrant-loving, criminal-protecting, law-abiding gun owner-hating, global-warming loon.
On January 1, 2019, the first phase of the state’s Second Amendment-infringing I-1639, a new law supported by Governor Inslee, went into effect. It attempts to restrict or outright outlaw “scary-looking” guns. July 1st will see the state impose the second installment of the tyrannical new anti-gun law.
Other Washington law enforcement leaders also have announced their opposition to the new gun law. Police Chief Loren Culp of Republic and several county sheriffs have said they would not enforce the new gun law. Sheriff Knezovich has previously announced he will not enforce I-1639.
With the implementation of anti-gun owner and pro-illegal alien laws, it’s curious how Governor Inslee and AG Ferguson have no problem “resisting” federal laws they don’t like. However, these same state officials chafe when city and county officials dare to defy state laws that would have them dishonor their oaths to uphold the U.S. and state constitutions.
