Former Ada County Sheriff: Bundy bullying and vigilantism is counter to American values

The real issue lost in the events of the past week is the hijacking of the rule of law and using intimidation tactics to frighten those who these extremists disagree with. The police officers, health care providers and social workers involved in the child welfare case were simply following the law in order to protect a 10-month-old in imminent danger because of his parents’ neglect of his basic needs.

As the elected sheriff of Ada County for 10 years with more than 30 years in law enforcement, I hope Idahoans will see Ammon Bundy for what he is: a bully and a con artist.

There’s nothing more important than the health and safety of our children. The law gives us strict guidelines for how and when to protect children when their parents fail them. It’s a horrible situation, but the response can never be to threaten and attack the doctors who are trying to save a life. Shutting down a hospital, threatening police officers and judges at their homes — these are not the actions that have anyone’s best interest in mind.

Bundy, who is running for Idaho governor, does not value the Constitution, the rule of law, or the lives of our police officers. If he did, he’d be protesting parents who neglect their children, or using the legal and governmental channels we have to change laws we disagree with, not calling in national militia members to engage in vigilantism in order to intimidate public servants and health care providers.

Bundy’s criminal history and ability to craft an illusion for his followers to blindly follow are not representative of the people of Idaho. His embrace of political violence flies in the face of the values of the of Idaho I love. True conservatives value freedom and respect the rule of law. Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, who promoted Bundy’s actions and encouraged his calls for violence, is equally responsible and equally dangerous.

Our country is built on respect for each other and the rule of law. McGeachin and Bundy seem to think the rules don’t apply to them. They treat our communities like a game, engaging in political theater to grab power and undermine the constitutional principles that make America great.

Bundy’s reprehensible track record of protesting at the private homes of elected officials and others endangers the lives of police officers. When these so-called protesters show up, and there are people on both sides who lack proper firearms training, things can escalate. Accidental discharges of a gun are not uncommon, and when people aren’t trained and a gun goes off in the direction of a home and a police officer responds, the danger of this sort of staged intimidation becomes obvious.

Idaho voters must understand that Bundy and McGeachin are hypocrites who endanger and threaten our police. McGeachin’s speech to a white nationalist conference and Bundy’s shutdown of our largest hospital threaten our community and our reputation. Idaho voters should demand better: true conservatives who are not given to play-acting their interpretation of the Constitution or threatening those we may disagree with.