In the battle of states rights versus federal rights, nothing is more controversial than the concept of government agencies being allowed perform surveillance over the United States to monitor and track American citizens. However, one city in Colorado is taking their sovereign rights seriously as a new ordinance submitted to the town board would allow licenses to be issued, and even bounties to be paid, to hunters who shoot down government drones flying without cause over the confines of their municipality.
“A small town in Colorado is considering an ordinance that would create a license and bounty for hunters to shoot down drones.
The Town of Deer Trail shall issue a reward of $100 to any shooter who presents a valid hunting license and the following identifiable parts of an unmanned aerial vehicle whose markings and configuration are consistent with those used on any similar craft known to be owned or operated by the United States federal government.” – ABC 7 News, Denver
The 10th Amendment to the Constitution provides states the right to create and control all laws and regulations not directly given to the Federal government in the powers designated to them from the nation’s founding document. And while the fairly recent Patriot Act and NDAA have hinged upon curtailing the rights of American citizens deemed enemy combatants in the ideological war on terror, simply overflying states, cities, and towns without due cause is in direct violation to the same authority that curtails the NSA and CIA from direct surveillance on Americans without a court order.
The Oath of Allegiance, which is taken by nearly every civilian and military law enforcement body, specifically mandates these officials to defend the Constitution from all enemies, both foreign and domestic. However in recent years, members of several government agencies, including some local law enforcement, have blurred the lines between their primary mandate for protecting the public, and instead have become potential enemies through illegal actions taken which break one or more Constitutional rights of citizens such as illegal searches and seizures, and failure to provide the due process of law.
America fought one Civil War in its history, and contrary to the teachers of American education, the primary cause was not slavery, but instead state’s rights over Federalism. Since federalism won through the destruction of the confederacy, 150 years of change has led many states to forget they have vast Constitutional powers over a central government that continuously pushes the boundaries of their authority. And even if the passing of a new ordinance and license to shoot down government drones is passed and deemed only to be symbolic, it is one small step being made by a town who recognizes their power and authority to self sovereignty granted them under the 10th Amendment.
Kenneth Schortgen Jr is a writer for Secretsofthefed.com, Examiner.com, and hosts the popular web blog, The Daily Economist. Ken can also be heard Friday evenings giving an weekly economic report on the Angel Clark radio show.
