Collier County Commissioner Chris Hall responds to criticism of his proposed federal nullification ordinance. (Image: CCBC)
July 13, 2023 by David Silverberg
A proposed ordinance nullifying federal authority in Collier County, Fla., will be introduced at the August 22 meeting of the Board of Commissioners.
Commissioner Chris Hall (R- District 2) told the Board that he will be introducing the “Bill of Rights Sanctuary County Ordinance”) at that time. He made the remarks at the very end of the regular meeting of the Board on Tuesday, July 11.
While he originally intended to introduce the ordinance at the next Board meeting on July 25, Hall acceded to a point of personal privilege from Commissioner Burt Saunders (R-District 3), who requested the delay because he will be unable to attend the next two meetings in any form including remotely. When he made the request, Saunders stated that he thought the ordinance would pass but he wanted to be present for the discussion.
Board Chair Commissioner Rick LoCastro (R-District 1) supported delaying the agenda item to Aug. 22 because he wanted the full Board present and the date would give all time to prepare. “For another bite of the apple, the juice is worth the squeeze,” he said.
Hall responded to a wave of opposition to the ordinance expressed in the earlier part of the Board meeting. (See: Collier County anti-federal nullification ordinance in limbo after public opposition). Opponents (including this author) argued that the ordinance is unconstitutional, impractical and illegal.
In response, Hall made the following statement (presented in full):
“As for the controversial time in the summer, we’re going to work through the summer and I want to work, I don’t want to play babysitter to the agenda items. People have every opportunity to send us e-mails, to call us, to write us, to Zoom in. I mean, just because they’re not here and there’s going to be other items that I’m going to be on the other side of, that my people are going to have the same opportunity.
“And so, this whole thing is brought up, we heard comments today that we’re looking to cherry pick federal law, that we’re looking to secede from the union, that we’re looking to nullify federal law that we don’t like and that’s so much baloney. I don’t know where all that started but it’s out there.
“I just want to publicly put an end to all of that because this is an ordinance, a sanctuary for the Bill of Rights. A sanctuary is just a safe place. So I’m bringing this up because in case things ever twist off in Washington, DC, in case things ever twist off, God forbid, in Tallahassee, we’re going to have a sheriff that’s going to back and honor the Bill of Rights that were given to us in the Constitution of the United States of America. We’re going to have the right to bear arms, we’re going to have the right to due process of law, we’re not going to have to take soldiers and put them in our house, every one of those Bill of Rights. The one gentleman said. ‘What about the 11 through the 27th?’ We’re not nullifying those. We just want to make it a safe place here. We’re not looking to do anything other than live life happily ever after. But in case, anything ever happens, I would like to have an ordinance that the sheriff has the authority to enforce.
“So with that, I want to bring that forward on July the 25th and I’m sure we’re going to hear a million comments about it. But I think it’s… . You know, when I ran for this office, I ran to protect and secure the rights of the people and we’re not looking to do anything other than to do that. We want to enhance your rights and protect them even more than what you feel you already have protected. So I wanted to say that publicly because there’s going to be those out there, I’m sure I’m going to get e-mails. But flame-suit on.”
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Video of the commissioners’ discussion of the ordinance’s introduction can be seen here at points 3:04 to 3:17.
To see previous Paradise Progressive reporting on this issue:
The Battle of Collier County: Inside one county’s struggle to stay in the United States
Sanctuary in America: Haven or insurrection by other means?
To contact commissioners:
Rick LoCastro, Chairman
Commissioner, District 1
Rick.LoCastro@CollierCountyFL.gov
239-252-8601
Chris Hall
Commissioner, District 2
Chris.Hall@colliercountyfl.gov
239-252-8602
Burt L. Saunders
Commissioner, District 3
Burt.Saunders@CollierCountyFL.Gov
(239) 252-8603
Dan Kowal
Commissioner, District 4
Dan.Kowal@colliercountyfl.gov
239-252-8604
William L. McDaniel, Jr.
Commissioner, District 5
Bill.McDaniel@colliercountyfl.gov
239-252-8605
A full copy of the proposed ordinance can be downloaded here. (Contact TheParadiseProgressive@gmail.com regarding any difficulties accessing or downloading the document.)
Liberty lives in light
© 2023 by David Silverberg