Constitution resolution in front of county commissioners

A local group’s crusade to have Clovis governmental entities pledge support to the United States Constitution will continue today at a regular meeting of the Curry County Commission.

Written by former Clovis Mayor David Lansford, a resolution will be presented asking commissioners to “wholeheartedly embrace the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights” as well as “unequivocally support the Constitution of the United States of America.”

The Clovis city commission passed the resolution during a meeting Sept. 10. The approval was by a 6-2 margin, with commissioners Robert Sandoval and Isidro Garcia opposing.

Sandoval and Garcia expressed disapproval that the resolution singles out the First and Second Amendments to the Constitution for emphasis.

The First Amendment prohibits Congress from making laws “respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” The second protects the right to bear arms.

Lansford, who will be unable to attend today’s meeting due to a prior commitment, pointed to federal government “taking over private companies and bailing out banks, passing trillion dollar stimulus packages” as reasons for local entities to pledge their support to the Constitution.

Monday, he also cited the advent of the 2001 Patriot Act as another example of action that impinges upon personal freedom.

“It’s asking local officials to reaffirm their support for the Constitution, and it asks federal officials to refrain from reducing any rights protected by the Constitution,” Lansford said.

Today’s meeting will be held at 9 a.m. at the North Annex of the Clovis Carver Public Library instead of the normal location at the Curry County Courthouse.

In other business before the commission, Curry County Manager Lance Pyle said he’ll request the funding for two more deputy sheriff positions to add to the current 11. If approved, the pair of positions will push the total of law enforcement officers in the sheriff’s department to 24.

“We have the funds within the existing budget, and we’ll ask the commission to approve these positions, and we’ll transfer the money,” Pyle said. “Based upon the current revenue projections, I don’t see a problem funding it for future years.

“We’ve got to start preparing for growth,” he added.