HEDGES SHOULD BE SCRUTINIZED

I'm just a bit confused as to why more legal questions aren't being
raised at the state and even local level about the appropriateness of
the Sheriff's Department enforcing certain federal drug laws and not
honoring the laws of the state of California instead (Re: "Why
Worry," July 24, 2008).

The issue of state sovereignty and rights versus federal jurisdiction
has always been an issue and is a proper area of clarification for the
courts, but isn't Sheriff Hedges an employee of the county, which is
under the jurisdiction of the state of California? Wouldn't that make
him primarily responsible for the laws of our state rather than the
federal government? I understand that it's been claimed that they are
afraid of federal repercussions to themselves, but if they are that
afraid to back the laws of the state that they pledged to serve, maybe
they need to be replaced with elected officials that will honor the
state voters who elected them. They seem to act as if they are a law
unto themselves.

Sorting out state and federal laws and their effects is the venue of
the courts, not the Sheriff's Department. It seems the sheriff and his
department has a problem discerning what laws should be followed and
where they should direct their efforts, even in their own house. With
all the press about suspicious and seemingly unnecessary deaths at the
hands of department employees over the years, and current possible
improprieties in the Sheriff's own office itself, it would seem clear
where their efforts should go. Instead they seem to be more worried
that some federal officer will question whether or not they have
enforced a federal law, which is in direct contradiction to the laws
of California.

Where there's smoke there's fire, only the fire is in the Sheriff's
own office this time, not some medical marijuana dispensary.

Bill Eckert

Paso Robles