Tonasket City Council adopts "Life & Liberty" Resolution

4/10/03

Tonasket, WA - The City Council of Tonasket formally adopted their own version of the Life & Liberty Resolution at their regular April 8th meeting. The City of Tonasket is the 84th municipality in the nation to adopt the measure which is aimed at curbing the state & federal government’s encroachment upon the private rights of Citizens through such legislative acts as RMAPS and the USA Patriot Act which uses the War on Terror as a guise to deprive Citizens of their basic Constitutional Rights.

“We wanted a document that the average Citizen could understand,” said Mayor David Caddy after the unanimous vote was taken. “Too many of these things are written in so much legal-eze that nobody can figure out what we’re trying to say. This Resolution is nice and simple. We’re just trying to tell folks that their Rights are safe here in Tonasket. We’re gonna protect them.”

Okanogan County Sheriff, Frank Rogers, who was also in attendance, said “I’m basically in support of this Resolution. I just need a little more time to study it”, when asked if he could support a similar resolution on the County level.

A message was also read from State Senator Bob Morton who expressed strong support for the one page Resolution which declares in part that,

“Whereas, certain recent acts of various legislative bodies have directly or covertly contradicted the Sovereign Rights reserved by and for the Citizens in both State and Federal Constitutions and founding documents; then...(Section 3.) The City of Tonasket believes that any act, enactment, law, or legislation, etc., which dilutes, weakens, or denies the State and/or Federal Constitutionally guaranteed Rights of the Citizen is void from its inception, is unenforceable in our jurisdiction…” naming the U.S. Constitution as the “supreme law of the Land”.

When comment had been listened to from Citizens who filled the Council Chambers, Councilman Pat Walter moved that Tonasket City Resolution #2003-03 be adopted after nodding his concurrence with comments from Mark Alan who co-authored the Resolution with Tonasket Chief of Police, Don Schneider.

“We’ve whittled this Resolution down from four pages to just one over that past months. I don’t think we dare take any more out of it. However, I do think we’ve got a much better document that the one we started out with. I’m very proud of the City Council. You’ve taken a very courageous step for us and we appreciate it,” said Mark A lan



For further info you may contact: Mark Alan (509) 485-2206 or Don Schneider (509)486-4677

jmr@bossig.com



Resolution _2003-03

A Resolution declaring the position of The City of Tonasket in affirmation of, belief in, and support for the State and Federal Constitutional Rights of the Citizenry.


Whereas, the United States of America, the state of Washington, and the documents creating and limiting their government, were both conceived in the shadow of bloody conflicts whose terrors and oppressions were yet fresh in the minds of the People, the Sovereign creators of all our governments; and,

Whereas, a majority of the original thirteen Independent States, Rightfully jealous of their newly won Liberty and Sovereignty, who, at the time of their adoption of the Constitution for the United States, in order to prevent any misconstruction, abuse, or expansion of the proposed federal government’s newly created powers, expressed a clear desire that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added to the Constitution in the form of a Bill of Rights; and,

Whereas, Article six of the Constitution for the United States clearly states that only laws and treaties “made in pursuance” or in conformity with said Constitution shall be the “supreme law of the Land”; and,

Whereas, early in our history, in 1803 A.D., the Supreme Court ruled in Marbury vs. Madison, that “All laws which are repugnant to the Constitution are null and void” from their inception; and,

Whereas, certain recent acts of various legislative bodies have directly or covertly contradicted the Sovereign Rights reserved by and for the Citizens in both State and Federal Constitutions and founding documents; then,



Now, Therefore, Be it Resolved by the City Council of the City of Tonasket, Washington, that;



Section 1. The City of Tonasket supports all, lawful, and Constitutional efforts to prevent and investigate terrorist or other criminal acts and prosecute their perpetrators.

Section 2. The City of Tonasket believes that sufficient Constitutionally acceptable tools existed, prior to the passage of the “USA Patriot Act” or other such restrictive acts, for Law enforcement to accomplish their intended lawful purpose.

Section 3. The City of Tonasket believes that any act, enactment, law, or legislation, etc., which dilutes, weakens, or denies the State and/or Federal Constitutionally guaranteed Rights of the Citizen is void from its inception, is unenforceable in our jurisdiction, and should be quashed, repealed or found by a court of jurisdiction to be unconstitutional in part or in full, as appropriate, to protect the Rights and Freedom of the Citizenry.

Section 4. The Tonasket City Council strongly encourages all Citizens, organizations, and governmental legislative bodies to study, for understanding, the State and Federal Constitutions and their history, and the Bill of Rights and it’s history so that they can recognize and resist attempts to undermine our Constitutional Republics and the system of government that has brought our civilization so much success.

Section 5. The Tonasket City Council believes it is the duty of every citizen to protect and defend the State and Federal Constitutions from all enemies- foreign and domestic- and to demonstrate outspoken respect for the Rights that have been paid for with the blood and sweat of the American People throughout our history.





Dear ____:

I certainly hope the resolution so well worded will be adopted by the City of Tonasket. Upon its adoption, I would appreciate receiving a copy of the resolution that I may distribute it here at the state capitol. Sometimes the faxed copies become impaired, and if you could send as clean a copy as possible, that will make for my reprinting or copying thereof to be a clear copy which would be more valuable in distribution.

Thank you for the time and effort you have put in to this proposed resolution.

Cordially yours,

BOB MORTON State Senator