Interesting Times

by Michael Peroutka

We live in interesting times.

Just a month ago, our attention was on March Madness.

Now we are pre-occupied with Covid-19 and “Social distancing”.

This has happened very quickly and the reaction of many government officials is to jettison the rule of law.

Regrettably, under the banner of emergency, many Governors are decimating the rights and liberties which they are sworn to defend.

What is missing from the public discourse is any reference to the authority, and the limits of authority, by which government may lawfully act.

For example, whatever the suspected medical dangers of personal contact, there exists no constitutional authority for the Governor’s edict that restricts gatherings or that pretends to falsely imprison Marylanders in their own homes. 

Our God-given right to association and to liberty of movement is protected by our federal and state constitutions.

For example, the Maryland Constitution, at Article 44 provides that any departure from the provisions of the Constitution under the plea of necessity, or any other plea, is subversive of good Government…”

So, we at the Institute on the Constitution, along with the Constitutional Sheriffs and Police Officers Association, are calling on sheriffs, police departments and other law enforcement to follow the law they are sworn to uphold, and to abstain from enforcing orders lacking constitutional authority.

It is essential that we think and act lawfully.  Especially in these interesting times.

This is MAP for IOTC bringing you TAV.