Elected Public Official Who Honors His Oath

Every elected public official take the same oath.

I am a on the Board of Trustees in Hotchkiss, CO

I stand by the oath I took to the Constitution of the United States of America.

Thank You,

George Brauneis
Hotchkiss, CO

CONSTITUTIONAL REPUBLIC 101: YOUR RIGHTS DON’T COME FROM GOVERNMENT

Copyrighted Material. Reprinted by permission of S.W.A.T. Magazine.

NOTE: This article was first published in S.W.A.T. Magazine, where Stewart writes a monthly column called Enemy at the Gate which is dedicated to the Bill of Rights - and that means all of it. Both the publisher and editor of S.W.A.T. are committed patriots who fully back what Oath Keepers is doing. (and no, S.W.A.T. Magazine is not just for police. Its readership also includes military and non-military average folks). They have given their consent to Stewart republishing this article online. This article presents some foundational principles we should always keep in mind. Feel free to pass it on to others for non-profit uses, but give credit to S.W.A.T. Magazine and include the Oath Keeper web address.

The First Fundamental Principle of Constitutional Interpretation: Your Rights Don't Come From Government

By

Stewart Rhodes

Ben Franklin reportedly remarked that the Constitution formed “a Republic … if you can keep it.” Well, you can’t keep it if you don’t know what it is.

So, what is it? As George Mason said, “no free government, nor the blessings of liberty, can be preserved to any people, but by frequent recurrence to fundamental principles.” What are the fundamental principles of our Republic? Should we look first to Supreme Court decisions for such guidance? Hardly. As Jefferson said:

They [the judges] are … in fact the corps of sappers and miners, steadily working to undermine the independent rights of the States and to consolidate all power in the hands of that government in which they have so important a freehold estate.

And that was when the ideas of the Enlightenment still reigned supreme, long before the infestation of Marxism among legal elites. No, the Court has long ago gone astray. Let us begin with our Declaration of Independence:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness ….

There, at the heart of our Republic, are not just the concepts of equality and consent of the people, but also natural rights. The Declaration of Independence is fundamentally a natural law document and the “long train of abuses” that made revolt necessary were not only deprivations of representation (as we were taught in school), but also of natural rights, such as life, liberty, and property, and the abuse of all of the ancient, hard won procedural protections of those rights, such as habeas corpus and jury trial in a civilian court, rather than a court of admiralty. They finally shot back when the government attempted to strip them of the means of resisting the already ongoing abuse of their other natural rights.

Rights come first, and then government is created to protect them, not the other way round. This is something modern political and legal elites want us to forget. They don’t believe in inalienable, natural rights that are ours by virtue of ‘nature and nature’s God.” Instead, they share the view of Karl Marx, that such “rights” are merely artificial political/legal constructs, that man is just an infinitely malleable animal (to be shaped by social engineers), with no inherit rights whatsoever, and your only “rights” are whatever society wants to “give” you. Black’s law dictionary defines this as “positive law” – man made law - as opposed to natural law. Thus, Janet Reno once told a group of federal law enforcement officers “You are part of a government that has given its people more freedom … than any other government in the history of the world”(emphasis added).

Under this view, which flips the Declaration on its head, on what grounds can you ever rebel? Since your rights are “gifts” from government, and merely whatever the government courts say, with no higher power or law, it is never legitimate for a people to rebel, no matter how ridiculous the government’s “interpretation” of its own powers or how arbitrary and murderous it becomes once its servants in black robes “make it legal” by interpreting your so-called rights out of existence. Without natural rights there is no right to revolt, which is precisely why these elites think it totally illegitimate for you to have effective means of resistance.

Remember that all of the Crown’s actions were upheld by the English courts as legal and “constitutional.” However, for the Founding generation, that was not the end of the argument because they knew their rights were not just whatever the government robed lawyers said.

In harmony with that timeless, self evident truth, the Bill of Rights does not grant any rights. It is really more a bill of protections of rights. The First Amendment does not say “the people are hereby granted a right to free speech, freedom of the press, free practice of religion, and assembly.” Instead, it says “Congress shall make no law respecting … [those rights].” It is a prohibition on Congress, to protect pre-existing natural rights.

The same is true of the Second Amendment. It does not say “the people are hereby granted the right to bear arms.” No. It says “… the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” It is a prohibition on government action, meant to protect a pre-existing right.

Likewise, the Fourth Amendment does not grant us a right to be secure in our persons, houses, papers and effects from unreasonable searches and seizures. It declares that our right to that security “shall not be violated” and then it sets forth procedural requirements to protect that preexisting right. Nor does the Fifth Amendment grant us a right to life, liberty, or property. It merely prohibits the government from depriving us of those pre-existing rights without due process of law, and spells out specific procedural protections for those natural rights. The same holds true for jury trial.

Thus, whenever you hear a judge, politician, lawyer, or talking head in the media speak of what rights you do or don’t have under the Constitution, you are hearing at best an ignorant statement, and at worst, a lie. And whenever you find yourself running to look in the Bill of Rights to see whether you have a right to do something, you are making a fundamental error. Your rights are inherently yours by nature and by nature’s God.

With that fundamental principle as our background, I will next delve more directly into constitutional interpretation, showing how the Bill of Rights mandates how we must interpret what the people consented to as the means “to secure these rights.”

Stewart Rhodes

Founder of Oath Keepers and S.W.A.T. Magazine columnist

www.oath-keepers.blogspot.com

If you enjoyed this article and would like to read other S.W.A.T. Magazine Enemy at the Gate columns by Stewart Rhodes, you can purchase back issues of S.W.A.T. online, here in electronic format (PDF downloads) or as printed back issues here. You can also subscribe here.

Airborne Korean War Era Veteran

In Feb. 1950 at the age of 17 I enlisted in the United States Army and took the oath to protect and defend the Constitution of these United States. Little did I know or understand at that time that the day would come that I would ever have to defend it against our own Government.

After I finished basic training I went to Ft. Benning, Georgia to take Airborne training. It was while in Airborne training that the Korean war broke out. After Airborne training I was sent to Ft. Bragg, North Carolina to the 82nd Airborne Division signal Company where I spent three years. After discharge I returned home and Married a wonderful girl and now on the 27th of March 2009, we will celebrate our 55th wedding anniversary.

Thinking back over the years I have never forgotten my oath and am as committed today as I ever was to the Constitution. Its to bad that the people running our Government today do not understand what our forefathers stood for and had the courage to stand up against all those secret organizations that wish to destroy our Nation and its Constitution!

Thank you.
Roger T. Pervere

Combat USMC Veteran '04-'08

As a Combat Veteran USMC '04-'08 (Fallujah, Saqliweah, Ramadi), you can count me in. I will gladly assist in the defense of the Constitution on American soil. Thank you for this organization.

-Evil Monk

http://www.righteousrantings.blogspot.com/

Dave Freeman Talks about Staying Steadfast and True Under Pressure

"Let your good conscience and your oath to the Constitution be your faithful guide"

In July of 1963 I was 20 years old and honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, having served almost three years with the 35th Combat Engineers Battalion at Fort Lewis, WA (except for a 5 month tour in France and Germany during the Berlin crisis when the Russians built the infamous wall which literally imprisoned the East Berliners) I traveled to Las Vegas, NV and took up residence with my brother who was employed by A.E C (Atomic Energy Commission) which shortly thereafter became known as D.O.E. (Department of Energy) at the notorious Mercury (Atomic) Test site.

A few months later when I turned 21 I applied for the job of Clark County Deputy Sheriff. The process was rather simple considering the Sheriff hired his own deputies and he fired them as well. The main obstacle to being hired was convincing a group of well seasoned sergeants and lieutenants, sitting on an "Oral Board" that you had the qualities they were looking for to serve with them as a deputy sheriff. Long story short, they gave me quite a grueling interview, but I earned their approval and was formally hired by the Sheriff.

In those early days, they issued you two pair of Summer and Winter uniforms, a five point deputy sheriff badge and an I. D. card, but I had to buy the rest of my equipment: S&W .357 mag. pistol (that we could ONLY load with 200 gr., 38 cal. cartridges) a Sam Brown leather belt with a holster, ammo pouch, cuff case and baton ring, all fastened to your trouser belt via leather double-snap keepers. They then told me to saddle up and report to the swing shift sergeant, who would assign me a senior partner to work with in the field (the famous Las Vegas Strip) until the next P.O.S.T. (Peace Officers Standards of Training) academy was scheduled.

I lucked out on my first swing shift by being assigned to one of the most experienced and respected senior deputies on the C.C.S.O. Because he was a quiet and humble man (caused by, I think, confidence in one's ability to handle ANY SITUATION that might present itself) I didn't know he was one of the detectives that apprehended/arrested the Kansas killers depicted in Truman Capote's book: "In Cold Blood."

Once I had a few shifts under my belt, I was reassigned to another senior partner, where it was explained to me to adopt his good traits and discard any negative ones. Late into the shift, when things started to pick up, we were dispatched to the Flamingo Capri Hotel & Casino in regards to a 425 (suspicious person) involving three NMA's (Negro Male Adults) observed by security in the adjacent parking lot. As we rolled in we spotted three NMA's (that appeared to be physically supporting the man in the middle) slowly making their way through lot. We approached them and asked what they were doing and one of the support men, who was obviously sober, stated they were trying to get their friend home because he had too much to drink. We then requested they identify themselves formally and they complied using proper identification.

At this moment, a field sergeant drove up and gave a thumb-down hand signal, to which my senior partner acknowledged with a nod. As the sergeant drove off, I asked: "What was that all about" and he told me that the sergeant had just given the order that they should be "Hooked-up and taken to the county jail!" I asked: "what are we charging them with?" and he said: "N-O-S!" Not having yet learned all the police jargon, I said: “what does that mean” and he replied: "Nigger on the Strip." I literally bristled at that definition and told him: "I will assist you in getting them safely to jail, but I don't want my name of the arrest report!"

Apparently, he was quite surprised that a rookie would take that position. He told me if we didn't follow the sergeants order there would be hell to pay. I told him it just wasn't right and I remained steadfast. Then he asked me what I thought we should do and I said that I know I'm just a rookie, but if it were up to me I would F.I. them (field interrogation card) and kick them lose. After pondering my suggestion, we F.I.'d them and sent them home. We cleared our call on the radio with: "three F.I.'s collected" and immediately the sergeants voice boomed over the channel: "10-5 with me at the convention center, now!"

As we pulled up alongside of his cruiser, he motioned for us to get in. My partner got in the front seat and I got into the rear seat. Bellowing, the sergeant asked my partner: "didn't you see my hand signal?" and my partner replied that he had. Still bellowing the sergeant said: "then why in the hell didn't you obey my order? My partner, trying to buy a little wiggle room, sheepishly said that we had thoroughly identified and checked the NMA's out and what with radio traffic picking up, we decided that by F.I.'ing them we could stay available for calls for service the rest of the shift.

The sergeant then turned to me and said because I was a rookie, I didn't have a say in the matter, but he still wanted to know what I thought. I told him that Yes, I was inexperienced in policies and procedures and maybe I was not the right man for this job, or maybe this job not right for me. He said nothing, so I asked if I could ask him a question and he nodded. I said: "If those men had been white would you have given the order to arrest them?" His face became livid with rage and he yelled at us: "Get the hell out of my vehicle and don't ever disobey my orders again!"

During the next thirty-one years of department service, there would be many more times when I bumped heads with my superiors, but I never let them intimidate me into doing anything that ran afoul of my principles or oath to see that everyone was treated equally under the law.

One incident that vividly comes to mind is when I requested a sit-down with my supervisor in front of his supervisor. There were many troubling issues that had been building up to the point that I needed to get them off my chest. I asked to speak un-interrupted and confronted my supervisor with several complaints (liability issues, police motorcycle safety issues, police equipment issues and personnel issues) that he had been avoiding discussing that I had been trying to resolve with him for quite some time. Thankfully, both ranking officers allowed me to vent from several pages in my pocket notebook and then I addressed my immediate supervisor with one final question: "Lieutenant, do you want the men to do your bidding because they fear you or because they respect you? He sarcastically replied: "That question doesn't even deserve an answer!" to which I replied: "Well sir, I just want you to know what I think about it.” “The Lord is my Light and my Salvation, of whom should I be afraid?" [Psalms 27] After the sit-down the lieutenant led me into his office and fired me as the Departmental Motorcycle Instructor, but I had attained the catharsis I was seeking.

The Captain never took any action on the complaints I had lodged against the lieutenant. In fact on my next ER (evaluation report) the lieutenant marked me down in several supervisory categories and when I formally protested the degraded evaluation, the Captain ordered that he rewrite it (much to my surprise!)

I felt compelled to document this event that occurred in my first few days as a rookie deputy sheriff. And also, how these challenges continued periodically throughout my entire career (as recounted in the above paragraph). I thought it would help illustrate how some unethical (and sometimes bigoted) supervisors seek to intimidate their subordinates into carrying out unsafe orders (jeopardizing the safety of the troops) and worst of all: unlawful orders, thereby causing them to violate their constitutional oaths!

Let your good conscience and your oath to the Constitution be your faithful guide.

Yours in Liberty & Fidelity,

Dave Freeman

Oath Keeper since 1960

A Firefighter Honors his Oath: "In Peace, Firemen. If Invaded, Soldiers"

"In peace, firemen. If invaded, soldiers." Amen!

I am not, nor have I ever been a member of the military. I am not a law- enforcement officer. I am a firefighter. Under state law in California,
this also makes me a "special peace officer."

I took an oath, in March of the year 2000, to "uphold and defend the Constitutions of the United States of America and the state of California against all enemies, both foreign and domestic, and to bear true faith and allegiance to the same." This oath was administered by my department's governing board, and is legally binding.

I am not issued a weapon in my course of work, but I take my oath seriously. I study the Founders of our nation, and the documents they produced. My wife and I are teaching this to our children. In our kitchen hangs a plaque that reads, "In peace, firemen. If invaded, soldiers." I hang it there because I believe in it. I view "invasion" to mean the deployment within the United States of any military or paramilitary force that bears the population hostile intent.

Thank you to those of you who have started and championed this movement. This is much needed by this country. The question of "what will the military do" causes a great deal of anxiety in the general American population. It is good to see some who will not just follow orders. History and the Jewish population can tell us all we need to know about just following orders. Six million murders testify to the folly of just following orders.

I believe that the right to own modern weaponry is the cornerstone on which the rest of our rights exist. I own such weapons, and seek appropriate training for their use. I have found the "Appleseed Program" sponsored by the Revolutionary War Veteran's Association and believe they are very much in concert with you. They teach marksmanship, and the history of April 19th, 1775. You may find more information about them at:

http://www.appleseedinfo.org/index.htm

Again, thank you for making this public stand. Know that you are not alone, and are very much needed. I pray to our Lord God that we will never have to demonstrate our resolve.

Allen M. Gillespie
Fire Apparatus Engineer
Humboldt #1 Fire Protection District

NOTE: Stewart Rhodes wrote a feature article on the Appleseed Program for S.WA.T. Magazine. You can read that article here. Appleseed is a great program, made up of volunteers, and is endorsed and highly recommended by Oath Keepers.

Active Duty Police Officer and Retired Navy Veteran

After serving in the Navy from 90 to 93 on board the USS Blue Ridge I became a Police Officer and Im still on the force.

Not only will I refuse any unlawful order that violates the Constitution I will fight the tyrants that give the orders.

Rest assured that me and my brothers in Law Enforcement talk about this subject on a regular basis. About 80% feel the same way I do.

I ask the "rookies" that when it comes down to the "nut cutting" who's side will you be on, the founding fathers who made this Country so great or the tyrants that are in power now? I took the Oath twice and will uphold it two fold.

God bless America!

Collin Conerly

Vietnam combat Vet

Sign me up. I may be 66 years old, but I've seen combat before and will not hesitate to do everything within my power to protect and serve the Constitution again.

Keith Allison

Testimony of Active Duty Air Force Tsgt.

I am with you.

I am active duty. At this time I want to be anonymous. I hope you understand. I am not paranoid, just trying to play it safe for now. I have less than [deleted] to retire. I fully support you and what you stand for and I do talk about these things with some of my subordinates. Those who I trust that is.

I took my oath to protect and defend the United States Constitution from all enemies, both foreign and domestic. I will keep my oath! I will not follow any unlawful order that asks me to violate the Constitution. Be it known that I will fulfill both aspects of protecting our Constitution from both foreign and domestic enemies.

TSgt USAF

Response to "NUTS!": This Vietnam Vet Agrees

Lew Waters, An Khe Viet Nam, about September 1970.

This Viet Nam Vet agrees, we have become what we were sent to fight back then. We have become what many others before and after us stood up against during "Cold War" years.

I too never recanted my oath of enlistment, nor will I ever.

We must take a stand now, if our children and grandchildren are to enjoy the freedoms and liberties we did as children.

I served with C Troop 7/17th Air Cav & 412th TC Det. in the Central Highlands of Viet Nam from mid 1969 to January 1, 1971, then on to Germany with Air Cav Troop 2nd ACR in Nuremberg, finishing off at Fort Bragg, NC with HHB XVIII Airborne Corps Artillery, Aviation Section. I ETS'd in March 1977, partly due to Jimmy Carter's amnesty granted to Viet Nam draft dodgers.

My entire time was a 67V20, OH-6A/OH-58A Crew Chief/Mechanic and sometimes Aero Scout.

The photo is of me, taken in An Khe Viet Nam about September 1970.

Thanks to all of you for taking such a stand.

Lew Waters
Vancouver, Wa.

Testimonial from Another 1st Cav. Vietnam Combat Veteran, 8th Combat Engineers (Air Mobile), 1968-1970

Firsts!

JT, [addressing the below 1st Cav. Vet.]

I am also a third generation Combat Veteran, My Grandpa was in WW1 My dad was an F.O. in Patton's Army, I was with the First Cav, 8th Combat Engineers (Air Mobile),1968-1970, mostly in Phouc Phin, we built Fire Bases mostly, but in this one area where we put in a air strip for Carabous and C130's + Fire Base (I am not sure how to spell it), Boo Dop is how it sounded, there was a sign at our CP that said "There is an essence to life the protected will never know".I am finding that saying to be quite poignant these days.

Glad you made it back O.K. I was 18 when I went, 20 when I got out, Now when I look at my 19 year old son I cringe to think how a person of that age could handle that sort of thing. Platoon is the closest thing I have seen that depicts what it was like, except we had better fields of fire, never any trees in the middle of a fire base. In the end of the movie when the helicopter was flying away and they were throwing body's into a bomb crater and a bull dozer was filling it in, that would have been me on the dozer.

So to make a short story long, I am so with you on the importance of protecting the Constitution, A perfect document when left in its original state, maybe dangerous when tampered with, so rare that all the forces and powers that be could come along and produce such a remarkable document, after thousands of years of people trying to perfect a free society. It has been bought and paid for with generations of blood, sweat, tears and ultimate sacrifice, it would be a abomination of our faith in God and our Honor as a people to ever let any one or thing defile what we as a people pass down from generation to generation as the ultimate gift of life to our children and future generations. Life would become meaningless without it, That is why as a fighting force we have the advantage in all battles, we have more to lose while the other side has so little to fight for.

I do solemnly swear to defend the Constitution of the United states of America and all it stands for so help me God. You better listen up Politicians, you have ventured on to thin ice and are flirting with death. The Constitution has given me the legal right to do what ever I must do to defend it against all who would tamper with it's original meaning and intent, and I will.

"jorgie49"

Another Active Duty Marine Sounds Off

Semper Fi

Thank you sir for your amazing video! It hit my email box late last night and I was almost brought to tears watching it. Thank you for counting us Marines as oath keepers. You can take that to the bank. My father was a Marine, before me and I did not join the Corps to be a tool for a communist takeover of our nation.

I agree totally with the oath keeper list of orders we won't obey. I’d rather be dead. I will make sure my Marines know their oath and what it protects.

I want to remain anonymous but don’t take that as meaning I won’t stand strong. This blog is incredible, is so inspiring to read the comments of veterans. Your message is spreading and I will make sure it gets to more Marines. We won’t let you down.

God bless you all!

Testimonial of Vietnam Combat Veteran with 1st Cavalry Div. and Police Officer

1st Cavalry Div. "Sky-troopers" - "Firsts"!

To Oath Keepers and to those who oppose them:

My name is JT Day. I am a third generation war veteran. My grandfather fought in WW I, My father in WW II, I fought with the 1st Cavalry Div. in Vietnam (and spent 5 years on active duty).
My son is a fourth generation combat veteran and career soldier.

After I left military service, I went into Law Enforcement where I served for about 30 years. I took the oath in January 1966, and since have lived up to it to the best of my ability. Of course, mistakes were and are made. This is the nature of man.

If you challenge the principles of freedom under the rule of law -the Constitution, you are a traitor and do not deserve to enjoy the freedoms the constitution provides for us. If you are one who is critical of the philosophy expressed herein, find another website more to your liking and go there. We cannot convince you of the rightness of this cause. that is for you to do through study, honesty and prayer. If you can't swear to uphold the Constitution, then you are either hopelessly naive, stupid or evil.

I expect that we will win this test of wills and strength, but some of us may fall. We will ultimately prevail because despite the current state of affairs, we are right-and those who would tear up the constitution are wrong. No nation on earth has been taken by force of arms when it had an armed citizenry.

To those who find fault with one or another of the positions taken by Oath Keepers, I say fine. But when it comes time to defend the CONSTITUTION of the Unites States, shut up and honor your oath.

It is far better to die on your feet leaning into the battle than to die on your knees as a slave.

Μολὼν λάβε

Testimonial From a Veteran of the Marine Corps and Air Force

Semper Fi

I took the oath three times, once upon initial enlistment in the Marine Corps, again upon reenlistment and a third when I joined the Air Force.

The emotions ran high during the oath as I reflected on what I was saying, I was dedicating my self to the defense of the constitution which is what I saw as the very thing that allowed us the liberty we enjoy over other nations. I remember the hair standing at "attention" on the back of my neck! This emotion comes back to me every time I think of it, even today.

I was distressed recently to hear from a young soldier upon returning home from basic training in the Army on his way to Iraq. He told me of the oath he took. He swore to defend America from all enemies foreign and domestic. I have not been able to confirm that the oath has been changed or if he just didn't understand the oath he took. Either way, this is a terrible thing.

He went on to tell me of the time spent in training going over the "rules of engagement" with the Iraqi people. He said they spent even more time going over the rules of engagement with the American people. Where are we going!!!

Young men and women today do not appear to be the thinkers that their parents and grandparents were, nor do they have the spine to stand up to their leaders and say "that would violate my oath of service."

I have very little use for anyone (military, police or politician) who would take an oath and turn around and violate the oath due to ignorance.

This is a great site, and one that is badly needed. Education is the key to liberty, and if that fails a good rifle!

Bob Sutherland

USMC

USAF

Oath Keeper Testimonial from Vietnam Era Navy and National Guard Veteran

I'm in 100% agreement in regards to Oath Keepers. I took my oath upon enlisting in the Navy almost 47 years ago and again when I enlisted in the National Guard 37 years ago. I served on Okinawa during the Vietnam war.

I had two brothers that fought in two different wars. WWII and the Korean war. I had three uncles who served in WWII, and one retired after 20 years in the Air Force. I had two great grandfathers and one great great grandfather that fought in the Civil War and one fought in the war of 1812 so he was quite old when he fought in the Civil War 49 years later. One great grandfather was wounded in the battle of Chichamauga Tennessee. So you can see my family goes back quite a ways in our country's battles.

I'm prepared to die to defend our Constitution against all enemies both foreign and domestic.

May God help us in these times that try mens souls.

A Veteran

Oath Keeper Testimonial of Marine Corps Veteran

Semper Fi

40 years old and then some, but still a damn good shot. USMC trained.

I believe in this country and the Constitution I have friends that are vets - they too feel like something is going to happen, kind of like there's no way around it. Our country has been run into the ground by self serving politicians and the dreaded democrats.

I will try to spread the news about you and what you are trying to do.

I served a short time under the Carter admin 30 years ago, I advanced to Lcp but they gave me a check for the rest of my enlistment( too many men in ). Looking back I should have taken the cooks job. Been retired by now if I had. Well I was 18 and I knew every thing.

Semper Fi and God bless,

Joel Ray