Little by little, the 2012 NDAA is sneaking into the mainstream media. Battle after battle is being waged across the country to combat this ridiculous law.
Two weeks ago, in Lenawee County, MI, the County Commission deadlocked 4-4 on passing anti-NDAA legislation. Although 4 commissioners, including Commissioner Cletus Smith, voted in favor of liberty, several others demonstrated complete ignorance of the issue at hand.
What were some of the assumptions made by these Commissioners, who voted against the rights of the people?
Commissioner Chris Wittenbach:
“It’s not going to have much impact one way or another,”
Although this legislation won't jump off the page and stand between a military officer and a suspect, it does provide a deterrent to enforcing the NDAA and its detention power in Lenawee County. Much like the Bill of Rights does not keep our rights from being violated, but it does provide a deterrent, and a foundation to preserve them.
Commissioner David Stimpson:
“I absolutely don’t want to comment on this. It’s absolutely ridiculous for us to discuss this”
He's right. It is entirely ridiculous for anyone to be discussing the indefinite military imprisonment, execution, or torture of anyone without charge or trial in America. It's like a bad dream to be talking about America like she's turning into Stalin's Russia…yet we are.
Ridiculous situations call for appropriate responses. It's ridiculous for us to be talking about this, but since we have been forced to, we must respond to protect the rights of the people.
Stimpson again:
"Stimpson said federal courts have already upheld the constitutionality of the National Defense Authorization Act. Voting to oppose the law would violate commissioners’ oaths to uphold the law, he said."
Firstly, although Federal Courts have upheld the Constitutionality of previous NDAA's, the 2012 NDAA has been declared unConstitutional by the 4th District Court and Judge Katherine B. Forrest.
Secondly, the Commissioner's oath is not to uphold the law. It is to uphold the Constitution. The Michigan Oath of Office reads as follows:
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this State, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of _____________ according to the best of my ability.
Nowhere in the Oath of Office does it say an elected official must uphold the law. Voting to oppose an unConstitutional law is not a violation of the Oath, it is a requirement of it.
Commissioner Collins:
“I don’t want to support anything that’s opposed to a constitutional rule”
Not only is the NDAA blatantly unConstitutional to any common man who reads it, but a Federal District Court has already declared the same. The link to that case was provided in the materials given to the commissioners.
The objections posed here demonstrate a clear misunderstanding of the 2012 NDAA.It's time to shift the County Commission's views on this, and we will be taking action. PANDA will work with the Lenawee County Commission to address these concerns, and restore Constitutional Governance in Michigan…one County at a time.
Watch out for an Action Alert on this soon…we may need it.
County Commission Deadlocks, 4-4, on Opposing NDAA
