Trust the Man Who Wears the Star

How’s Your Memory?

Really, I’m asking. In early 2020, before we knew that the entire world was in a pandemic, the U.S. state of Virginia had a little drama over that most American of issues, guns. Amazing, huh? America? Guns? A big pot of poop stirred up by the far-right and the NRA.

If you’re going to boil up some poop-soup, it has to be stirred, right?

Now, assuming you aren’t the most recent escapee from the turnip-truck, you know that traditionally the two principal American political parties have diametrically opposite views on gun regulations. Dems want some regulation. Repubs want even less regulation than now exists.

There is a school of thought that the NRA, Koch Industries, and gun manufacturers are contributing more money to the GOP than they are to the Democrats. Perhaps that’s true; however, both parties seem to benefit from the arms industry’s largesse. Apparently, the Republican Party defends the NRA’s interpretation of the 2^nd Amendment more aggressively than do the Democrats. Seems that after every mass-shooting we get GOP thoughts and prayers as opposed to proposals from the other-side-of-the-aisle calling for some amount of gun-control legislation.

Oops, there I went, again. Out into the tall weeds. Digression seems to be my default setting.

During the afore-mentioned bru-ha at the Virginia state capital in early 2020, various and sundry defenders of the 2^nd Amendment, as well as knuckle-draggers, wanna-be soldiers, and general piss-heads showed up at the opening of the legislature, armed, wearing military clothing and web-gear. Their motive was to intimidate state delegates and senators so no gun-control laws would get enacted.

Around the state, some county sheriffs declared that their county would be a 2^nd Amendment sanctuary and any law restricting access to firearms would not be enforced. The sheriff of Culpeper County, which is an hour south and west of Washington DC, said he would deputize citizens who desired to own restricted guns.

For weeks after the protests in Richmond, gun rights and restrictions were argued all over the U.S. And the sale of firearms was so intense that gun shops couldn’t keep up with demand.

While it has been several years since those protests the Culpeper County sheriff has indeed deputized citizens; however, he hasn’t been doing it out of fervor to protect some extreme version of the 2^nd Amendment. According to the U.S. Attorney’s office the sheriff’s been selling those deputy badges, rights, and privileges. The published indictment reads that Culpeper County Sheriff Scott Howard Jenkins, 51, accepted cash bribes and bribes of campaign contributions.

Of course, anyone charged with a criminal act deserves to be considered innocent until proven guilty; however, this federal indictment does seem to be the sort of thing that Sheriff Jenkins might do. He had declared his intention to deputize citizens although he hadn’t mentioned that he might also be collecting graft in the process.

While our old friend, High Sheriff Joe Ray Walker, understood that an elected county sheriff needed to be mindful of the voters, he doesn’t seem the type to accept bribes of any stripe. There is a vast difference between not shooting ‘anyone who might complain about it’ and accepting a bribe to deputize someone who lost the privilege of a concealed carry permit. Fictional Potomac County may have better lawmen than does actual Culpeper County.

You certainly don’t need me to pretend to be a real journalist and report the news. However, I thought that you might enjoy this follow-up of something we talked about before Covid became the major news item all over the world.

None of this will be on the final exam so we’ll finish early today. Next time you can expect more tall weeds, more digression, and a normal amount of foolishness. Come back soon and if you’re buying, mine is a Guinness.