Sunshine Sentinel

In 2021, in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic, a group of citizens concerned by the unprecedented moves of the federal government decided they wanted to take action to protect the Constitution locally. Troubled by the sight of cities going in flames, violence rising, and morals and freedoms declining, these citizens decided to exercise their civic duty and take action to protect their county. 

These citizens turned to Kristina Heuser, Legal Counsel at the American Constitutional Rights Union, to help them narrow their focus and provide some strategy on what could be done to protect Collier County, Florida. Heuser put her legal mind to work and drafted an ordinance that would seek to make Collier County a Bill of Rights Sanctuary. 

The ordinance was crafted from the legal principle known as the anti-commandeering doctrine – firmly established in case law including precedent established by the United States Supreme Court – which holds that localities cannot be compelled to act as an arm of the federal government by carrying out federal government programs and policies at the behest of the federal government.

Although many of us are not familiar with the legal jargon of this principle, every American citizen has witnessed it, in some shape or form, since 2016. In fact, in reaction to President Trump’s immigration enforcement policies, the liberal elite cried foul, and over 200 jurisdictions announced they would not cooperate, and they became sanctuary jurisdictions protecting illegal immigrants. These jurisdictions became harbors for illegal immigrants, and this has arguably contributed to ever increasing illegal border crossings that have plagued our country. In turn, many of us have witnessed these jurisdictions become riddled with crime and violence that remains unchecked.

Using the same principle of the anti-commandeering doctrine, Heuser sought to take a page from the same playbook, with a twist to it. This time around, she sought to protect the individual rights of American citizens, as opposed to illegal immigrants, by prohibiting local officials and employees from participating in carrying out any federal government mandate that would violate individual liberties set forth in the Bill of Rights.

With a renewed focus on their mission, in the Spring of 2021, the group of citizens contacted their county commissioners asking them to look at the ordinance and see if they would be willing to propose it. Commissioner McDaniel met with his constituents and agreed to propose the ordinance which led to its failure to pass by a vote of 3-2. To no one’s surprise, the liberal elite cried foul and were aghast at the notion that citizens would ever do such a thing.

Since that time, the American Constitutional Rights Union, with the legal guidance of Heuser and ACRU General Counsel Jack Park, formally launched ACRU’s Live Free Local initiative. This initiative arms citizens with the tools to make a difference in their communities.

With the country in a crisis of values and freedom, even some of the most ardent patriots are feeling disenfranchised and demoralized. Many citizens are frustrated with national politics and national media. ACRU’s Live Free Local motivates and empowers patriotic Americans to be involved and helps them find success at the local level.

The issue areas covered by Live Free Local are chosen based on the concerns of ACRU members and other concerned citizens. ACRU has found that these issues are being neglected by DC elites, but they are strong motivators for parents and grandparents and other Americans who are shocked by the quick downward spiral of even the most basic American values.

ACRU has started with 4 key issue areas and created sample ordinances, resolutions, and bills which citizens can have adopted by their local elected officials: (1) Protecting election integrity for vulnerable voters; (2) Protecting children and parental rights; (3) Protecting health freedom; (4) Stopping federal overreach in state and local matters.

Undeterred by negative press and unscrupulous tactics used by the liberal elite, the group of Collier County citizens recently reinvigorated their efforts, which has led to Collier County Commissioner Chris Hall proposing the ordinance again earlier this year. Originally scheduled to be taken up during a county commission meeting in July, the ordinance is now scheduled to be discussed August 22nd.

In a time when our constitutional republic is in peril, we should applaud these citizens for fighting to preserve liberty. It is time for the Collier County Board of Commissioners to listen to the locals who wish to Live Free.

Kweku Boafo is the Director of Strategic Outreach at the American Constitutional Rights Union