NC FREEDOM

Be aware, Constitutional amendment on Nov. 2 ballot

By Sybil Stafford


On the Nov. 2 ballot in NC is a referendum for a “Constitutional amendment providing that no person convicted of a felony may serve as Sheriff.” For or Against? The actual law will read “No person is eligible to serve as Sheriff if that person has been convicted of a felony against this State, the United States, or another state, whether or not that person has been restored to the rights of citizenship in the manner prescribed by law. Convicted of a felony includes the entry of a plea of guilty: a verdict or finding of guilt by a judge, magistrate, or other adjudicating body, tribunal, or official, either civilian or military: or a plea of no contest, nolo contendere, or the equivalent.” The bill was sponsored by Rep. Sutton of District 47 and ratified July 1, 2010.

At first this seems like a good idea but after much thought I decided that it is a dreadful idea.

First: It is our civic duty to vet who we are voting for, preferably before the primary so we have the best person running for the office.

Second: We live in a country that is passing so many laws it is almost impossible to not break a law in normal daily life. Example: When you are born in this country if you do nothing you have broken a law because you have not bought health insurance.

Third: In Arizona Sheriff Arpaio is being investigated and sued by the federal government for enforcing the illegal immigration laws. He is a good sheriff that the government is trying to destroy.

Fourth: I believe there could be a situation where a corrupt sheriff would set up a good person whom he believed is going to run against him. Have him arrested and convicted by his cronies. And as mentioned in my third reason it could be any other branch of local, state or federal government.

Fifth: People have run for sheriff that are felons before and they were not elected. County governments are small areas where it is easy to find out about the people running, and the opponent will absolutely let everyone know that the person running against him is felon. The system works, we do not need a Constitutional Amendment to fix what is not broke.

Matthew Lyon served in the Fifth and Sixth Congresses of the United States (March 4,1797 – March 3, 1801). In 1798 he was found guilty of violating the Alien and Sedition Acts. His violation was he had criticized President John Adams. He was sentenced to four months in jail and a $1000 fine. While in jail he was elected to the Sixth Congress and his constituency paid his fine. In 1800 he cast the deciding vote for Thomas Jefferson for President when the election went before the House of Representatives because of an electoral tie.

We are not Homer Simpson! We can think for ourselves! We must keep the option to decide this matter for ourselves. The system has not failed us so why change it?

This amendment should be debated. People should not go blindly to the polls and vote without thinking about this.

http://triad.ncfreedom.us/2010/09/29/be-aware-constitutional-amendment-on-nov-2-ballot/