PitCo stands up to Patriot Act (Colorado County wants its rights defended)

With the federal government prying into phone records and tracking library cards, a group of Pitkin County residents is asking officials in the legislative, judicial and executive bodies to reaffirm their sworn oaths to the Constitution.

Members of the Woody Creek Caucus, which adopted a Bill of Rights Defense Resolution on March 30, approached the Pitkin Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday asking them to retake their oaths to protect and defend the Constitution from controversial provisions of the Bush administration's Patriot Act.

Not only did the four commissioners present -- Mick Ireland, Patti Clapper, Dorothea Farris and Michael Owsley -- agree to reaffirm their oaths, each of them sounded concerns about recent actions taken by the federal government, and Clapper and Farris related stories about how they believe they've been on a "watch list."

Moreover, the commissioners agreed to schedule a special hearing June 29 so that both sides of the Patriot Act debate can listen to each others' points of view and a presentation can be made about the United States' eroding freedoms. The timing of the hearing is scheduled so that officials willing to reaffirm their public oaths can do so as part of a coordinated ceremony on the Fourth of July.

"I've always had a great many concerns about the Patriot Act," said Commissioner Patti Clapper, suggesting the county adopt its own Bill of Rights resolution. "I would be proud to reaffirm my oath on the Fourth of July. I've taken it twice before; I have no problem taking it two, three or four more times."

http://www.aspendailynews.com/article_14144

good for them!

...by a couple of years. But better late than never! :D

:toast:

...we could use his wit and fine-honed sense of outrage more than ever now...

:kick: