Citizens ask for assertion of 10th Amendment rights

Bourbon County residents approached the Bourbon County Commission in support of the 10th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America at Monday morning's meeting.

Local residents Jack and Jess Black addressed the commissioners with a few requests. They asked the commission to write a letter in support of Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1615 and to pass a resolution to "protect and defend the citizens of Bourbon County from martial law and tyranny ..."

"As the county goes, so goes the nation," Jess said. "It is the federal government that is ruining this country."

SCR 1615, which was introduced into the Kansas Senate earlier this summer ,claims the sovereignty of Kansas under the 10th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America. The resolution also serves as notice to the federal government to cease and desist certain mandates; providing that certain federal legislation be prohibited or repealed; and directing distribution.

"People are becoming unhappy," Jack said. "We need to take back our state."

Bourbon County Commissioner Terry Graham informed Jack that he has spoken with Sen. Bob Marshall, R-Fort Scott, regarding the SCR 1615. He was informed by Marshall that there should be no problem passing through both the Kansas Senate and House of Representatives.

"I have no problem writing that letter," Graham said.

The Blacks also presented a petition to the commissioners and asked for a resolution to be passed stating that the county will not allow the federal government remove rights from the citizens. The petition lists the following 10 items:

* The county will not obey an order to disarm the American people;

* ...will not obey any order to conduct warrantless searches of the American people, their homes, vehicles, papers, or effects; such as warrantless house-to-house searches for weapons or persons;

* ...will not obey any order to detain American citizens as "unlawful enemy combatants" or to subject them to trial by military tribunal; such a trial for treason must be before a civilian jury, not a tribunal;

* ...will not obey orders to impose martial law or a "state of emergency" in this county, or to allow any group or agency from outside the county to enter, with force, into the county, without the express consent and invitation of the county commissioners;

* ...will not obey orders to invade the home of and/or subjugate any citizen;

* ... will not obey any order to blockade county roads, highways or building structures, for the purpose of restricting free travel or our citizens;

* ... will not obey any order to force American citizens into any form of detention camps under any pretext;

* ...will not obey orders to assist or support the use of any foreign troops on U.S. soil and will consider the presence of such troops as an invasion;

* ...will not obey any orders to confiscate the property of the American people, including food and other essential supplies, under any emergency pretext whatsoever;

* ... will not obey any orders which infringe on the right of the people to free speech, to peaceably assemble, and to petition their government for a redress of grievances. Therefore, the county would not obey or support any orders to suppress or violate the right of the people to speak, associate, worship, assemble, communicate, or petition government or the redress of grievances.

After some heated discussion, the commissioners decided not to pass a resolution.

"I will not pass a resolution," Commissioner Harold Coleman said.