Letter to the editor: ‘Advocating obstruction of a law is not the answer’


I was disappointed to read of the Ford County Board’s resolution opposing the new state law banning assault weapons. While nine members of the board are certainly entitled to their opinions on gun rights, it is quite another matter to express those opinions in a formal board resolution.

The lone voice of reason in the room, board member Chuck Aubry, accurately pointed out that the new law had nothing to do with the Ford County Board and the action was being taken without knowing if the county as a whole agreed with it.

The resolution could be written off as simply stating opinions and blowing off steam. But formal actions by elected officials have real consequences.

The day after the Ford County Chronicle’s article on the resolution was published, The News-Gazette’s top-line story concerned Iroquois County passing a similar resolution and Sheriff Clint Perzee declaring he would not enforce provisions of the law. Like Ford County, the Iroquois County resolution and Sheriff Perzee’s statement contain opinions about the 2nd Amendment. But stunningly, the Iroquois County resolution went further and ordered that the county not support “enforcement” of the law and that the board “expects all elected officials of Iroquois County to support and enforce this resolution.”

In their sole discretion and by brazen fiat, this county board and sheriff have declared to all that this law does not apply to — and will not be followed — in Iroquois County.

Have we come to a point in our democracy when, if we don’t agree with a law, we just reject it? If I am opposed to the tax laws, am I at liberty to refuse to pay taxes? In an unavoidable parallel, are we at the point when, if we don’t like the outcome of an election, we are free to toss out the votes?

In my years as Ford County state’s attorney, there were laws on the books I did not agree with. But as an elected official, I swore an oath to uphold those laws without regard to my personal or political views.

Regardless of one’s position on the gun crisis and how to address it, county board resolutions advocating obstruction of the law are not the answer.

TONY LEE
Paxton