I noted with interest that the sheriff of Madison County recently announced he and his officers will only enforce those laws with which he personally agrees.

He also implied he will judge the “constitutionality” of laws before he decides to enforce them, a job previously done by the Supreme Court. Several other sheriffs across the country have made similar announcements.

I guess it is no longer what laws our state or federal legislators pass, but only what laws our sheriffs decide to enforce. And what about enforcing ideas that haven’t been made into laws, but which, in the sheriff’s judgment, should be laws? Isn’t that the next logical step?

I can only hope the sheriffs believe in equal rights, civil rights, property rights, freedom of speech (for everyone, not just him), religious freedom, etc. I guess I am in awe at having witnessed the greatest transformation in the history of our republic; the day the legislative, executive and judicial branches of our government were replaced by the county sheriff.

Bill Fenton

Florence