As I keep saying, do not believe everything you read
InfoWars is bashing the sheriff's department of Spokane County for taking a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) to a charity event where the deputies take children shopping for Christmas.
Some unidentified woman films herself badgering some of the deputies about the MRAP until she catches a deputy saying that there a lot of "constitutionalists" in the area, and they are well armed. At first, InfoWars shows only the few seconds where he makes that statement. Is it taken out of context? You betcha.
Several things are in play here. One is his choice of words. The other is what he means by the word "constitutionalists." Anyone living in North Idaho or Spokane would understand exactly what he was saying. He was clearly referring to some of the crazies who have made North Idaho and nearby Spokane a home for their warped thinking, and like to self-identify as "constitutionalists." Calling yourself a giraffe doesn't make you one, and calling yourself a constitutionalist doesn't necessarily mean you believe in the rule of law either.
Everyone would understand this except RINO State Representative Matt Shea (4th District, Spokane Valley) who jumped on the InfoWars bandwagon. Really, Matt? You're siding with InfoWars against a Spokane County sheriff? Not smart.
I live just a few miles from the Washington border, and another 19 miles to Spokane, WA. I'm familiar with Sheriff Knezovich, who has served as sheriff for close to 10 years. He is highly regarded by the people of Spokane, and if I lived in Spokane he would have my vote.
We live under the purview of the Kootenai County Sheriff Department, and know many of our sheriffs personally. I have never met one who wasn't very well trained, personable, and a strong defender of the constitution.
I'm someone who tends to fall into the camp of thinking police should have MRAPS. Why not? While you are well aware of the Boston bombing, you may not be aware of this:
A Spokane bombing attempt occurred on January 17, 2011, when a radio-controlled, shaped pipe bomb was found and defused in Spokane, Washington along the route of that year's Martin Luther King Jr. memorial march.
North Idaho has also lived under the legacy of being the past home to the Aryan Nation, a small group of people who had IQ's lower than my kitchen sponge. No doubt these mental defectives considered themselves "constitutionalists."On March 9, 2011, the FBI arrested Kevin William Harpham, 36, of Addy, Washington, in connection with the bombing attempt. Harpham allegedly had ties to the National Alliance, a white supremacist organization.
On December 20, 2011 he was sentenced to 32 years in prison for the attempted bombing. source
I don't want my police or sheriffs having to defend themselves against these crazies with rubber bullets while riding bicycles.
One other point: Do not confuse local police with the Federal Government.
From YouTube:
Sheriff Knezovich addresses "Hate-mongering" article by InfoWars, where a couple of seconds of a longer video was used out of context to support the writer's agenda. This "clip" is being used to scare citizens and distort the truth. The person recording the comments interviewed a sergeant, a corporal and a deputy for several minutes, where the interviewer stated this was propaganda, and we were trying to desensitize children along with questions regarding the use of the military on United States citizens. The deputies were there to take children Christmas shopping, and were volunteering their time when this person with her agenda recorded this "gotcha" clip. The Constitution is the Law of the Land, and the foundation of our great Country. It is very sad and disheartening that people and websites distort and take comments out of context to promote their agendas.
Here's what InfoWars doesn't tell you: This deputy has served in law enforcement for 20 years, has been awarded a Medal of Valor, and has served in the United States Military. They don't provide the complete video; rather they use a very small clip that promotes their agenda. They don't tell you that the deputy stated the use of the military against our citizens would be unconstitutional.
We are asking you, the citizens, to standup and say "No More" to this type of irresponsible "reporting". Please standup for Your law enforcement deputies and for Your Veterans!
I have a bit of a headache and am unable to put the right words together in a format recognizable as semi-literate, and this whole thing has made my already hurting head feel like it's going to explode. So I'll let one of the commenters on the YouTube say it for me.
Alex Jones is a psychotic nutjob who has made himself "relevant" by playing to the irrational, lunatic fears of wittering conspiratorial lunatics like himself. The "constitutionalist" comment was taken out of context. The deputy used the word "constitutionalist" as a shorthand for right-wing fringe lunatics who immorally try to use the U.S. Constitution as justification for their lunacy. These rabid, foaming-at-the-mouth paranoiacs are no more intellectually honest than radical Islamists who try to use the Koran to justify their own brand of psycho nutjobbery.
I'd be willing to bet that most of these lunatic "constitutionalists" (along with all of the soft, flabby, slack-jawed, effeminate, basement-dwelling game-players who have attacked Sheriff Knezovich and his deputy) have never actually done anything to try and protect and defend the Constitution, such as enlisting in the military, joining law enforcement, or engaging in some other form of public service. Why? Because that would mean they'd have to put down their juice boxes and Xboxes and actually do something. Sadly, most of these right-wing nutjobs have never actually done anything. They are delusional, ego-driven fascists who like to yap, yap, yap about how everything sucks, without bothering to educate themselves about the issues, or actually doing anything to make things better, let alone putting themselves at risk in any meaningful way.
Do a stint in the service, the way I did, or join the police, or the fire department, or volunteer for the local homeless shelter, or join the Peace Corps and do humanitarian work in Guatemala or Liberia for a year. And then come back and tell me all about the Constitution, and how badly you think our government sucks, and how you and Alex Jones are the sole custodians of the big truth that everyone else is too stupid to figure out. But you won't, and you know why? Because if you actually got involved and did something in the real world, you'd realize that all of this paranoid, delusional bullshit is just that: bullshit.
Update:
Let me bring clarity to the above sentence. As far as I know, the following video is the full version from which InfoWars plucked out the part where the deputy makes his comment about constitutionalists and ignored the rest.
Please note that the deputy at the beginning of the encounter explains that the MRAP is not armed, and is to be used only for cover for the safety of the deputies.
When she asks if the military could be used against citizens, he clearly states it would be unconstitutional.
He agrees with her that Obama has taken liberties with the interpretation of the Constitution.
She asks if this event was some sort of way to desensitize kids to military vehicles.
He sort of laughs and says, "No, we're here for a charity event. We take the kids shopping for Christmas and the only reason they bring the MRAP is because, "Kids like to see this stuff."
She agrees that her son would love to see the MRAP.
Then she asks if those little round holes are for mounting guns. Ummmm, no. They're for the crane to attach to lift the top off if need be. The MRAP is not armed.
At some point she asks why they would need such a vehicle, and he tells her that it provides cover for the deputies so they can get closer to a possible dangerous situation and still be somewhat protected.
The recent hostage situation at the Lindt Chocolate Cafe in Australia is a perfect example of a good use for an MRAP.
He politely asks her to look inside and shows her where the armament used to be, and explains that it has been removed.
She asks if it can be restored and he tells her no, it has been removed and they no longer even have it.
Well, she says - if you could obtain another one, could it be replaced? Ummm, I guess so.
The types of rifles and arms that average citizens legally own have way more firepower than even 10 or 15 years ago. Most sheriff offices have always owned armored vehicles, but those vehicles no longer can protect an officer from some of the newer guns.
Why no outrage over the helicopters police use? Or how about the scary dogs? I'm a hell of a lot more scared of a helicopter loaded with armed deputies or a police dog.
One other very important point: City police departments, the local sheriff, and the Feds (FBI, ATF, Homeland Security, DEA, all of which are under the Justice Department. For a complete list of Federal law enforcement agencies, go HERE) are not interchangeable. The National Guard is a joint federal and state entity. They each exercise different powers.
The most egregious violations of the rights of citizens have been by the Federal Government. Ruby Ridge and Waco come to mind.
I believe there will come a time when the sheriffs of this country will be the only thing standing between us and the Feds.
More:
If you can stomach it, here's RINO Matt Shea being interviewed by InfoWars.
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