Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home City Council chose to take no formal action regarding enforcement of possible new gun control laws in the wake of Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller’s letter to Vice President Joe Biden on Jan. 14.
Councilor Scott McKee Jr. raised the issue during the council’s regular meeting on Jan. 22.
In his letter, Mueller said that the Sheriff’s Office would not enforce any regulation enacted by Congress or by executive order of the president that ran contrary to the constitutional rights of Linn County citizens.
McKee said Sweet Home citizens had contacted him and Mayor Jim Gourley following the release of Mueller’s letter.
That letter “kind of reassured some people,” McKee said. “I think what he did was right. I feel he had the right and obligation to do it. The council needs to make some kind of statement. I think we have an obligation to make a statement that nothing is different. We’re going to go forward business as usual.”
No gun-control legislation has been approved yet, McKee said, but with proposals out there, people are asking whether local officers will support federal officers if the federal government were to pass legislation.
Councilor Greg Mahler said it’s a public safety issue, and he thought the police chief should bring anything he has on the subject to the Public Safety Committee.
Citizens came to McKee and Gourley in support and against the letter, and the mayor told McKee he should bring it to the council.
“They deserve some kind of clarification,” McKee said, adding that he isn’t asking the council to take a stand on the letter. “There’s nothing to take a stand on.”
The sheriff made his comments as an elected official, said City Manager Craig Martin, and he’s able to direct his employees.
“There’s been proposals, but there hasn’t been anything proposed that would require us to change how we operate,” Martin said. He thought it might be premature for the City Council to make a statement about what it thinks of controls that could be imposed by the federal government.
Higher levels of government have had discussions, he said. “There hasn’t been anything that would prompt reviewing that debate.”
The council could make a statement though if it wanted to, he noted.
McKee said he was just asking the council to make “a statement that we’ll continue operating the way we understand them (the law) now. That clears up what our police officers are going to be doing.”
There are fears that Sweet Home police officers would react like the Sheriff’s Office and fears the other way, McKee said.
“I think every one of us has taken this oath (to uphold the Constitution),” Gourley said. The councilors also have to be careful how they do things because of the City Charter as well.
“I kind of feel the same way as Scott,” said Councilor Dave Trask. He’s a Second Amendment supporter, and he thinks the letter was “gutsy.”
“The problem is we don’t know what the knuckleheads in Washington will do,” Trask said. “Probably nothing, just like everything else.”
“Right now, it seems to me it’s political jousting,” said Councilor Bruce Hobbs.
It’s premature, Mahler said.
Trask said he would be interested in hearing from the police chief.
“I think it’s important not to get ahead of ourselves,” said Police Chief Bob Burford. The federal government has three branches of government, and he said he has faith that by the time something came down, the constitutionality of it would be settled.
Like the councilors, Burford thinks police officers put a lot of stock in the Constitution.
“If it happens, and it’s not settled law, then we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Burford said.
“I disagree with you guys not being proactive,” said Shawn Anderson, who operates a business in Sweet Home and lives in the area. “They’re going to do something, and it’s going to be big.”
The sheriff did a good thing, Anderson said, and his voice has been heard around the world.
“I think more people need to be proactive,” Anderson said. “You see a lot happening, let’s get rid of this because it makes the public safer, but in the long run, it doesn’t.”
He noted there are a lot of parallels between the current political climate to Nazi Germany and even regimes before that.
“In my opinion, that’s what Tim’s letter was about,” Anderson said.
With things like mandated health insurance, the federal government is pecking away at it, he said. The only thing separating the U.S. Government from other governments is the Second Amendment. Everything is in place for communism except that the United States is the largest armed nation.
“We’re wanting to see what’s coming out before we take a stand,” Gourley said. “We all support the Constitution.”
Anderson urged the council to “pick a side,” otherwise it’ll be playing catch-up.
“I’ll pick the other side,” said Dave Holley of Sweet Home. “I served in the military. I served overseas.”
He owns guns and has hunted, Holley said. “I think what’s happened so far is all political. I think for a council that represents me to start making statements is way too premature.”
There will be time to react, he said. He agrees with some proposals, and he disagrees with others.
In any case, the council isn’t making a statement for him because he has his own opinions, Holley said.
Council members stated their opinions, said Councilor Craig Fentiman, and it’s time to move on down the agenda.
Present at the meeting were Mahler, Fentiman, Gourley, McKee, Trask and Hobbs. Marybeth Angulo was absent.
In other business, the council appointed Kascia Hausner to the Youth Advisory Council; Susie Ford, Stefanie Gatchell and Leanna West to the Budget Committee; and Walter (Ted) Sellers to the Traffic Safety Committee. The council also reappointed Forest Service botanist Alice Smith to the Tree Commission.
Positions remain open on several city committees. For more information about them or to apply, contact the City Manager’s Office at (541) 367-8969 or stop by City Hall, 1140 12th Ave.