'Constitutional sheriffs' ask Michigan police to stand against Biden, COVID-19 orders

[demmiblue]

One day after President Joe Biden’s inauguration, Barry County Sheriff Dar Leaf advertised lessons on how to stand up against “tyranny” represented by the new president.

The six-week online course is a product sold by the Constitutional Sheriff and Peace Officers Association, an activist organization that claims county sheriffs hold power that can’t be challenged by any government official, even the president. The CSPOA has close ties to far-right groups that stormed the U.S. Capitol and a network of activists spreading misinformation about the coronavirus and presidential election.

“We’ve already seen the tyranny that has been happening with government orders since the whole COVID-19 thing started,” read the post shared on Leaf’s Facebook page. “With Joe Biden as president, it won’t get better unless we the people do something about it. It’s time for all patriots to become educated on the Constitution and their rights and begin standing up and taking action, now more than ever before.”

Lane Crothers, a professor at Illinois State University who studies far-right social movements, said the CSPOA argues sheriffs have the right to selectively enforce laws based on their interpretation of the constitution. This usually comes in the form of gun control laws and restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“The constitutional sheriffs are not specifically a militia movement, but they are linked to power structures,” Crothers said. “That has real implications for how law enforcement works and it speaks more broadly to my sense that they’re trying to carve out zones where they can do whatever they want.”

https://www.mlive.com/politics/2021/02/constitutional-sheriffs-ask-michigan-police-to-stand-against-biden-covid-19-orders.html

[secondwind]

1. Our country is not doing well. Too much

FREEDUMB. This post is not meant to be funny. What will the US look like in 2050??

[pwb]

2. Sheriffs should not be elected.

If they refuse to follow the voters will. Make them an appointed position so they can be made to do the will of the people.

[LastDemocratInSC]

3. "... they're trying to carve out zones where they can do whatever they want."

Sounds like MS-13, or the Hells Angels, or any other gang of amoral thugs.

[Turbineguy]

4. Yes.

If you obey orders from me, you'll be free.

[northoftheborder]

5. Not good news, to start the day.......

[modrepub]

6. This Group Has Been Around For Awhile

It's also nation wide. Mostly 2nd Amendment nuts. My county Sheriff has expressed support for these ideas and I remember him making a stink about how Obama could be arrested if he unlawfully restricted access to guns. Since most counties in this country are dominated by Republicans, this group has much wider support across the country than most people know.

In my county, the Sheriff office is mainly processes prisoners and gets them to and from court. Not the most powerful job and certainly these folks aren't going to attract a lot of voter attention just spouting 2nd amendment talking points. They may be something akin to a 2-pack a day smoking habit. Something you can ignore for most of your life until you're diagnosed with cancer.

[gibraltar72]

7. Sheriffs by and large are low lives.

We have way to many who think their say is the last say in enforcing orders and laws here in Michigan!

[safeinOhio]

8. Time for Michigan to get rid of sheriffs and go

to county police forces with chief appointed by county admin.
Problem solved.

[Tbear]

9. Sheriff Quack and Global Healing

No kidding. Your post concerned me so I googled CSPOA Michigan and here is the first thing I got. Not sure where Mack is from, too busy laughing.
https://cspoa.org/free-range-on-the-constitution-with-sheriff-mack/