Sheriff Richard Watson Talks About The Job, Eagle Forum's guest speaker Otero County Sheriff John Blansett spoke
about keeping his oath of office, Sheriff Richard Mack and the eroding
away of the office of sheriff.
Blansett said he keeps the oath of the office of sheriff in his wallet.
"It states," he said, "to protect and preserve the Constitution of the
United States of America. It also says to protect the laws and
Constitution of the State of New Mexico. That's what I do."Blansett told the audience he is their sheriff.
"I am your elected sheriff," he said. "I am your oath keeper."
Blansett was first elected to the office of sheriff in 1988. He served
two terms, then retired from the office until being elected sheriff
again in 2002.
An article printed in the Feb. 22, 2008, edition of the Daily News
reported Blansett at that time had said he would retire in December 2008
because his eyesight is deteriorating. He was last re-elected in 2006.
He said he is trying to finish up his last term as sheriff.
"It's been a battle because of this issue with my eyes," Blansett said. "After that I quit."
Blansett wants to spend more time with his grandchildren, he said.
He brought a video of former Graham County Ariz. Sheriff Richard Mack
who is known nationally for successfully challenging the
constitutionality of the Brady Bill with six other sheriffs from across
the country.
The Brady Bill requires a five-day waiting period before handgun
purchases by an individual. The law also requires a background check on
potential handgun buyers to determine whether they have a criminal
record.
During Sheriff Mack's tenure, federal officers informed the sheriffs of
the State of Arizona that they would be required to enforce the
so-called "Brady Bill" and run background checks at their expense under
the law, according to Sheriff Mack's Web site.
According to the Web site, in 1994, Mack and six other sheriffs from
across the country, challenged the constitutionality of the bill and
ultimately fought it all the way to the United States Supreme Court.
Three years later, in a landmark 5-4 split decision based on the Tenth
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, Mack won his case, according to his
web site http://sheriffmack.com.
Blansett said the highest elected official in the county is the sheriff.
"In some of the eastern states, the office of sheriff has become
nonexistent," he said. "In many of the New England states, the sheriff
runs the jail. He has no law enforcement power whatsoever at all."
Blansett said he believes it's incumbent on everyone to reinforce elected officials, not to encroach on the office of sheriff.
"Not only on the sheriff but any county elected official," he said.
"Don't be stomping on the Constitution's toes. It's not going to
happen."
Blansett addressed the new drug law in Mexico which eliminates jail time
for small amounts of marijuana, cocaine and even heroin, LSD and
methamphetamine.
He said the drugs coming across the border are not for personal use.
"They're brought over here for distribution," Blansett said. "The change
in possession laws in Mexico, I don't really see it having an effect on
us."
Contact Duane Barbati at dbarbati@alamogordonews.com.
Source : http://www.alamogordonews.com/ci_13212361
