Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Congratulations to the Roosevelt County Commission. That was some impressive politicking it did on Tuesday.
Commissioners seem to have successfully walked a fine line — supporting the county sheriff who doesn’t want to enforce the state’s newest gun law, while declining to defy the governor who championed that law.
Commissioners passed a resolution “Declaring Opposition to the Extreme Risk Protection Order Act.”
Sheriff Malin Parker and his supporters no doubt left the meeting believing they have commissioners’ permission to not enforce the law.
But county officials have made it a point to say their resolution is only “symbolic,” that it doesn’t trump the law or give anyone the authority to ignore the law.
As County Manager Amber Hamilton summed it up in a text message after the meeting: “The courts determine constitutionality.” Commissioners only gave Parker their blessing to not enforce any law that is unconstitutional.
In other words, that was some impressive politicking done by Roosevelt County commissioners.
In truth, Roosevelt commissioners did little more than Curry County commissioners who, on Feb. 6, declared publicly that they support the U.S. Constitution. Curry County formally urged lawmakers to not pass any laws that violate the Constitution.
There’s no word yet on how commissioners from either county feel about sunshine, green grass or quiet Sunday mornings.
As stated clearly in this space before, New Mexico’s red-flag gun law, like similar laws around the country, is simply silly. No law can keep weapons out of the hands of the mentally ill or felons or anybody else determined to obtain a weapon. Such laws just give us a false sense of security.
But it’s maybe more important to recognize that while government cannot protect us from anything, it can prevent us from protecting ourselves, which is the potential result of all gun laws.
The right to defend yourself is not just a Constitutional right provided by government. It is a God-given right that government has no right to take away.
That point starts to be hammered home when even government operatives start recognizing a need for protection from government edicts.
But of course, government officials think it’s a good idea to try and stay in government’s good graces if you can. After all, New Mexico’s governor hasn’t yet decided whether she will approve almost $4 million worth of capital outlay projects lawmakers have recommended for Roosevelt County.
Thus, Roosevelt County commissioners practice politicking. And they’re pretty good at it.
— David Stevens, publisher
