Uphold the laws

So the new Columbia County Sheriff is not going to enforce Initiative 1639 that 60 percent of Washington voters supported. Did he not take an oath to uphold the laws of the State of Washington when he was sworn in as sheriff? How does Sheriff Joe Helm get to pick and choose which laws he will enforce? Are he and other sheriffs in the state being intimidated by groups (i.e. the National Rifle Association and the Second Amendment Foundation) that opposed Initiative 1639? Until and if the federal court finds the law unconstitutional, he should uphold the law.

When I drive to Dayton and hit the Columbia County line on the Pataha flats, can I ignore the 60 mile an hour speed limit and drive 70 because I think the speed limit law is too low on those straight stretches? I am sure that would not work out well for me if I encountered a Columbia County officer. But if Sheriff Helm can ignore a law, why can’t I?

For what it is worth, my respect goes out to Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers, Asotin County Sheriff John Hilderbrand, and Garfield County Sheriff Drew Hyer. They all have expressed reasonable opinions and have not blindly followed other county sheriffs in Eastern Washington.

Our elected officials do not work for themselves or their own beliefs. They work for the citizens of the county and state in which they were elected. Sheriff Helm should act accordingly.

--Donna L. Trump, Dayton/Clarkston