So I sent this to my governor today. He is a pretty good governor but seems to be modeling his response after NY and CA instead of the Constitution.
Governor Brad Little,
Greetings from north Idaho. I would like to offer you my sincere prayers for your continued health and wisdom as you deal with the Chinese coronavirus. I voted for you and have been pleased with the majority of your actions as governor. I am writing to you as I have observed some of your recent actions and have been greatly troubling to me as a citizen of Idaho and of the United States of America.
As the governor, sir, you recently issued a “stay at home” order. It has been historically demonstrated that states do indeed have quarantine power, but it is limited. It has always been directed at known or suspected sick people, and never indiscriminately at the population at large. It has also been held that the government must have a compelling interest to exercise this power and that the “least restrictive means” must be used. Your executive order does not resemble either of these characteristics of a reasonable quarantine, and instead shows good intention, but incorrect action. Whether this was done out of a lack of knowledge of these historical and legal parameters, or out of a perceived need to wield unconstitutional power to ameliorate a crisis, I do not know.
The people of this great state highly esteem you, sir. Did you think so little of us that you did not even consider politely asking us to temporarily lay aside our rights in view of our responsibilities towards our fellow man? I want to do what I can to help prevent the spread of this disease and I know that Idahoans would make almost any sacrifice willingly to protect others. However, you did not ask kindly. You instead seized power that was outside your jurisdiction.
Among the gravest results of your order has been the abridgement of multiple First Amendment rights. Specifically, your order has infringed on the rights of Idahoans to practice the free exercise of religion, and to assemble. The Bill of Rights has been incorporated to the states and must be respected by them. I am therefore exercising another First Amendment right, namely the right to petition the government for redress of grievances, in order to seek the best for my state and its people. Your egregious order has put myself, along with countless other citizens, in the unenviable position of having to choose whether to obey the state and remain a citizen in good standing, or to obey my Lord and Savior, Jesus, and not forsake assembling together (Heb. 10:25). If I can go to a hardware store, why can I not go to church? Is one more “essential” than the other? Your order has also put me in a position where I feel compelled to write such a letter to you, sir; a governor I respect and am grateful for. It must be understood that I took an oath, much like you did, that I would “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic”. I take that obligation seriously, and have known men who have died for it. To see our rights, which are given to us by God and cannot be alienated from us by government, so flagrantly thrown aside once we become scared is intolerable to me. When a soldier is overseas in a fight, he does not get to forget his duty and hide once he is scared. Indeed, he can be charged with dereliction of duty for doing so. Public officials can be similarly held accountable for violating their oath, both electorally and legally (ref. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 242).
In view of the preceding sections of this letter, I would respectfully but strongly urge you to amend your order. Please bring your directive back in line with the Idaho and US Constitutions and fulfil your oath and your purpose in being elected Governor. Idahoans are strong and capable. If you ask them for cooperation as a friend and fellow citizen, instead of demanding their obeisance, they will back you to the hilt.
Lastly, it is my uncomfortable but necessary duty to stand for the Constitution and my faith. Therefore, I am informing you that as long as the state of Idaho declares that it is illegal for me to attend church in the manner described in the Bible I have a duty to disregard that order. I will continue to exercise my God-given right to follow my sincerely held religious beliefs. I can do no other. As long as I can find a church that is meeting I will attend and do my best to serve my Lord Jesus and my fellow man. This means that I will of course practice social distancing and proper sanitization practices as I have a duty before God to do unto others as I would have them do unto me. I stand ready to render any service required of me by my state or country that is in accordance with our Constitutions and my faith. I will continue to pray for and support you and all in government during this difficult time.
Very respectfully,
Signature
Governor Brad Little,
Greetings from north Idaho. I would like to offer you my sincere prayers for your continued health and wisdom as you deal with the Chinese coronavirus. I voted for you and have been pleased with the majority of your actions as governor. I am writing to you as I have observed some of your recent actions and have been greatly troubling to me as a citizen of Idaho and of the United States of America.
As the governor, sir, you recently issued a “stay at home” order. It has been historically demonstrated that states do indeed have quarantine power, but it is limited. It has always been directed at known or suspected sick people, and never indiscriminately at the population at large. It has also been held that the government must have a compelling interest to exercise this power and that the “least restrictive means” must be used. Your executive order does not resemble either of these characteristics of a reasonable quarantine, and instead shows good intention, but incorrect action. Whether this was done out of a lack of knowledge of these historical and legal parameters, or out of a perceived need to wield unconstitutional power to ameliorate a crisis, I do not know.
The people of this great state highly esteem you, sir. Did you think so little of us that you did not even consider politely asking us to temporarily lay aside our rights in view of our responsibilities towards our fellow man? I want to do what I can to help prevent the spread of this disease and I know that Idahoans would make almost any sacrifice willingly to protect others. However, you did not ask kindly. You instead seized power that was outside your jurisdiction.
Among the gravest results of your order has been the abridgement of multiple First Amendment rights. Specifically, your order has infringed on the rights of Idahoans to practice the free exercise of religion, and to assemble. The Bill of Rights has been incorporated to the states and must be respected by them. I am therefore exercising another First Amendment right, namely the right to petition the government for redress of grievances, in order to seek the best for my state and its people. Your egregious order has put myself, along with countless other citizens, in the unenviable position of having to choose whether to obey the state and remain a citizen in good standing, or to obey my Lord and Savior, Jesus, and not forsake assembling together (Heb. 10:25). If I can go to a hardware store, why can I not go to church? Is one more “essential” than the other? Your order has also put me in a position where I feel compelled to write such a letter to you, sir; a governor I respect and am grateful for. It must be understood that I took an oath, much like you did, that I would “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic”. I take that obligation seriously, and have known men who have died for it. To see our rights, which are given to us by God and cannot be alienated from us by government, so flagrantly thrown aside once we become scared is intolerable to me. When a soldier is overseas in a fight, he does not get to forget his duty and hide once he is scared. Indeed, he can be charged with dereliction of duty for doing so. Public officials can be similarly held accountable for violating their oath, both electorally and legally (ref. 18 U.S.C. Sec. 242).
In view of the preceding sections of this letter, I would respectfully but strongly urge you to amend your order. Please bring your directive back in line with the Idaho and US Constitutions and fulfil your oath and your purpose in being elected Governor. Idahoans are strong and capable. If you ask them for cooperation as a friend and fellow citizen, instead of demanding their obeisance, they will back you to the hilt.
Lastly, it is my uncomfortable but necessary duty to stand for the Constitution and my faith. Therefore, I am informing you that as long as the state of Idaho declares that it is illegal for me to attend church in the manner described in the Bible I have a duty to disregard that order. I will continue to exercise my God-given right to follow my sincerely held religious beliefs. I can do no other. As long as I can find a church that is meeting I will attend and do my best to serve my Lord Jesus and my fellow man. This means that I will of course practice social distancing and proper sanitization practices as I have a duty before God to do unto others as I would have them do unto me. I stand ready to render any service required of me by my state or country that is in accordance with our Constitutions and my faith. I will continue to pray for and support you and all in government during this difficult time.
Very respectfully,
Signature
