A look at Washington Gun Control Laws & Those Who Will Defend Your Rights
by KrisAnne Hall, JD
In 2018 the people of the State of Washington voted to infringe upon the rights of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. We know that essential rights like these do not come from government, they are inherent to the right of all people pursuant to the Laws of Nature and the duty of self-preservation.
“Among the natural rights of the Colonists are these: First, a right to life; Secondly, to liberty; Thirdly, to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can. These are evident branches of, rather than deductions from, the duty of self-preservation, commonly called the first law of nature.” Samuel Adams, The Rights Of The Colonists, 1772
Washington’s Initiative 1639, is a not only a clear violation of these principles, but also a violation of the the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution and Article 1 section 24 of the Washington Constitution.
2nd Amendment: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Article 1 SECTION 24 RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS. The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men.
These documents are relevant to the application and enforcement of Initiative 1639 because every Sheriff & Deputy in the State of Washington, along with every Police Chief and officer take an oath of office to “support” the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Washington. Since Initiative 1639 is contrary to both the US Constitution and the Constitution of the State of Washington, those who take this Oath are left with a very serious choice to make: do they enforce the law and violate their Oath, the US Constitution, and the Constitution of Washington or do they maintain their oath, protect the rights of the people and the principle within the documents they swore to support and refuse to enforce. There are those in Washington with the integrity and courage to do the latter. Two of those men are Sheriff JD Raymond of Franklin County Washington and Police Chief Republic Police Chief Loren Culp.
This is what America Needs; this is what Americans must take time to encourage, not only in their own communities, but anywhere people of principle manifest themselves. We are told, Benjamin Franklin told his countrymen, “We must, indeed, all hang together or, most assuredly, we shall all hang separately.” Thomas Paine expressed the very same sentiment when he wrote in his pamphlet Common Sense, 1776, “It is not in numbers, but in unity, that our great strength lies;” Americans have become so divided by false profiteers of hate and racism that we no longer feel the unity in Liberty that cause a people to stand together in defense of the rights of all humankind. This void is something that we must work to fill. We must once again come together in support and condemnation for persons and events, whether they happen in our backyards or in the capitols of our fellow countrymen. What one governor, legislature, sheriff, judge, or mayor may feel emboldened to do in the destruction of our rights will inevitably embolden others to do the same. If you see in happen in Washington but you live in Nebraska, those who created our America would tell you that you have an obligation to your neighbor and yourself to stand together in defense of Liberty.
We can stand together as a formidable force against the usurpers of our rights. But we must also stand together WITH those who have the integrity and courage to defend them. We must develop this as a habit in our daily lives to not only encourage the proper understanding of Liberty and Principles, but to also encourage within ourselves the courage to stand when the challenge comes our way. You may ask, “how can these people defend my rights when I don’t live in their community?” Because whether Franklin actually said that or not, the principle remains true throughout all of time and the history of experience; whe must stand together or we will perish alone.
That is why I have written this article, to inform and encourage you to stand with these men of courage and give them the support they need as they defend YOUR rights.
These men are not alone. I am simply giving you their examples and hoping you will take the initiative to seek out others who deserve like encouragement. Please write them, call them, and give them your support in every way you can. I thank those of you who are reading this and will act…for your passion for Liberty and the time you take every day to ensure that my children and grandchildren remain free. One final encouragement from Winston Churchill:
“If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without blood shed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves.”
Please contact Sheriff Raymond and Chief Culp and encourage them. Let them know, wherever you may live, you appreciate their integrity and courage to protect your rights and the rights of those yet to come. Call them, send them a letter or postcard, tag them in your tweet or social media post. Then contact YOUR sheriff and police chief and introduce them to the example they need to follow.
Sheriff JD Raymond
Main Office / Records (509) 545-3501
1016 N. 4th Ave, D201 Pasco, WA 99301
Memorandum from Sheriff Raymond to his deputies:
Republic Police Chief Loren Culp LINK to article about Chief Culp
Hours: 8-4 Monday-Friday
Address: 157 N. Clark Ave., Republic, WA 99166
Phone Number: (509) 775-3216
Fax: 509-775-2812
A Constitutional Sheriff is one of your best defenses against a federal government who is trying to exercise powers not granted by the Constitution. Is your Sheriff a Constitutional Sheriff ? Go to https://cspoa.org/ for more information.
