A national sheriffs group tells its members they have the right to ignore federal laws

Sheriff Richard Mack, the founder of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, told ABC News that sheriffs must "protect their citizens from the overreach of an out-of-control federal government" and "they have no obligation to enforce" laws they deem unconstitutional or unjust.

Nowhere in the Constitution, federal law, or state laws are sheriffs given this authority.

Since this group has also gone down the rabbit hole of believing and spreading disinformation about the 2020 election, it's easy to imagine how they could contribute to undermining our democracy. There was a widespread effort involving officials at all levels of government in 2020 to overturn the results of the presidential election, as the Jan. 6 Committee and recent federal and Georgia state indictments show. If sheriffs have the authority of mini-dictators, able to do whatever they see fit with regard to the law, they could undermine, overturn or take over the elections apparatus in their counties.

This group is part of a growing authoritarianism on the right. American Values Coalition will continue to fight these efforts and bring attention to this trend. If you find this information helpful, please share it.

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What Else We're Reading

“Mark Driscol Declares War On ‘Woke,’ ‘Beta-Male’ Pastors on Charlie Kirk Podcast”

The Roys Report documents disgraced pastor Mark Driscoll's re-emergence as a right-wing political extremist who talked about slitting peoples' throats on Charlie Kirk's podcast.

Driscoll, who seems to be fashioning himself as an activist, as well, claims he’s looking to the prophet Elijah—a “man’s man,” who didn’t just carry a weapon, but “is a weapon”—as his model.

On Driscoll’s website, called “Real Faith,” he’s selling a hat picturing a skull with fire coming out of it using the acronym WWED for “What Would Elijah Do?”

“Imagine the pastor today that had the stones to pick a fight and then slaughter 400 denominational leaders, slit their throats as a public event,” Driscoll said. “That’s Elijah.”

“Beware the Black Robed Regiment cosplay: Dressing in the garb of Revolutionary clergy in the 21st century reflects neither biblical wisdom nor sound theology.”

Karen Swallow Prior writes about the Black Robed Regiment for Religion News service.

Those who wish to change the culture, to advocate for religious freedom and even to protect civil liberties and the secular U.S. Constitution and do these things in the name of Jesus ought to do so, not only with financial transparency, but also with biblical wisdom, maturity and discernment — clothed in Jesus Christ, not Revolution-era costumes.

It would be easy to dismiss such gimmickry as mere fringe. Fisher and his reenactors have been reported on by numerous media outlets, going back to Glenn Beck’s 2010 announcement of their formation, but more recently because of their participation in the Jan. 6 rally. Now the group is part of a pastors’ conference at one of the country’s largest evangelical universities. And the special rate for pastors who attend, according to the conference organizers, is a “special subsidized all-inclusive rate that has been covered by VERY generous investors.”

“Why Christian Nationalism makes American Christians less Christlike”

Andrew Whitehead has a new book on Christian nationalism. (AVC’s Amazon affiliate link for the book is here.) This recent Religion News Service op-ed will give you a sense of the content.

After years of examining Christian nationalism as a social scientist, I’m convinced the greatest threat to Christianity in the United States is not outside forces.

Instead, it is white Christian nationalism. Over and over, I find evidence that the practical fruit of Christian nationalism is not love; it is power, control, domination, fear and violence.

Christian nationalism makes American Christians less Christlike.

“How to Fight Disinformation and Denial: Right-wing conspiracy theorists and what it will take to get reality to matter again.”

In The xxxxxx, Bill Lueders reviews a new book on disinformation titled On Disinformation. (AVC’s Amazon affiliate link for the book is here.)

But it won’t help to have more people telling the truth unless there are others willing to believe it. And once people go down the rabbit hole of giving credence to incredible things, no amount of evidence is going to get them to change their minds. McIntyre knows how hard it can be: “Talking to believers is in some sense like treating the sick once they have already been infected; it’s a salvage operation.” Or, as he quotes something Mark Twain is said to have said: “It is easier to fool someone than to convince them that they have been fooled.”

McIntyre encourages people to give it a shot: “Reach out to those who disagree with you, who have been misinformed and disinformed. If at all possible, try to do so with kindness. They do not need another person to hate or distrust.” He says some deniers “can be talked back to reality. Others cannot.”

“A 13-Year-Old Girl Is Apparently the New Leader of the JFK-QAnon Cult”

Vice News reports on one of the fringiest parts of QAnon.

Many of Protzman’s followers have permanently broken family relationships, emptied their bank accounts, and destroyed their lives to follow his wild conspiracy theories. And now it seems they are ready to do the same for a child, whose real identity is not known.