Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
Eastern Adams County's Only Independent Voice Since 1887
KAHLOTUS - Businesses and churches could start returning to more-normal operations this week following an announcement April 20 that the Franklin County Sheriff's Office will not be enforcing Gov. Jay Inslee's "stay home" coronavirus quarantine.
Sheriff J.D. Raymond not only said his deputies will not enforce the order, he also called the governor out for abusing his position and stripping away constitutional rights from law-abiding residents.
"Our governor has overstepped his constutional powers and is trying to control us under the guise of protecting us," Raymond said. "He states that he is protecting us from the current pandemic, but is simultaneously creating an economic crisis. He is trampling on our constitutional rights."
Raymond acknowledged the coronavirus "is real and needs to be dealt with appropriately." So, he encouraged residents and businesses to take appropriate voluntary social distancing measures.
But, he said, he is bound by his oath of office to uphold the constitutions of both the state and the U.S.
"I emphatically believe in the individual right to worship as supported by the First Amendment," he said. "And I, as the Frankly County sheriff, and my Sheriff's Office are not going to enforce any order prohibiting the free exercise of religion.
Her further said residents have the "right to work and provide for ourselves and our families... Neither I nor my office will enforce any arrests or fines regarding the operation of privately owned busineswses."
Raymond chastised the governor for not having a return-to-normal plan in place.
The sheriff's comments came after hundreds of protesters demanding the state reopen turned out Friday and Saturday in Richland, and more than 2,500 protested Sunday in Olympia.
Roger Harnack is owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. An award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher who grew up in Eastern Washington, he's one of only two Washington state journalists ever to receive the international Golden Quill for editorial/commentary writing. Roger is committed to preserving local media, and along with it, a local voice for Eastern Washington.
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