The Yavapai County chapter of the Conservatives for a Constitutional Republic (ConCR) has announced that former Graham County Sheriff, Richard Mack, will speak at their upcoming meeting this Saturday, September 23, 2023, in Chino Valley. The meeting is free and open to the public but seating is limited. Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP.
Sheriff Richard Mack, former Sheriff of Graham County, is the founder of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association. He gained national prominence in the 1990’s as the lead plaintiff challenging the Clinton administration’s Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act. Popularly known as the Brady Bill, the legislation sought to enforce federal firearms regulations by placing mandates on state level law enforcement officials.
Sheriff Mack and a handful of other constitutional sheriffs across the country challenged the mandate in federal court. Both Mack and Montana Sheriff Joe Printz, prevailed at the District Court level, which held that the requirement for state level cooperation was unconstitutional. The 9th Circuit reversed this finding and an appeal was taken to the Supreme Court.
In one of the most far reaching affirmations of state sovereignty in American Jurisprudence, the Supreme Court in Printz v United States reversed the 9th Circuit and struck down the Brady Bill’s federal mandate on state level law enforcement officials. The 10th Amendment places limits on federal powers and provides that “…..powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution…are reserved to the States respectively…or to the people.”
In the Supreme Court’s 5 to 4 decision, Justice Scalia, writing for the majority, upheld the principle of dual sovereignty under the 10th amendment and held that Congress cannot order state legislatures to enact laws enforcing federal mandates and cannot order state level officials, such as county sheriffs to enforce federal laws. The decision was a monumental victory for state sovereignty and continues to stand as a check on federal overreach.
Following his victory before the Supreme Court, Sheriff Mack turned to the lecture circuit as a folk hero to constitutional and patriot groups across the country. He has authored eight books, including “The County Sheriff—America’s Last Hope” which has sold over 100,000 copies since its publication in 2009. He remains active on the lecture circuit and has taught American History at an Arizona charter school in Maricopa County.
The Yavapai Chapter of the Conservatives for a Constitutional Republic is a group of conservative activists dedicated to defending and promoting the values of representative government as set forth in the United States Constitution. They are a private organization and not directly affiliated with any political party. However, most members are registered Republicans or conservative leaning Independents who are civically engaged or are current or former elected officials or candidates for office.
ConCR meets monthly at the Bible Baptist Church, 3490 N State Road 89, in Chino Valley. Recent speakers include Congressmen Eli Crane, Andy Biggs, and Paul Gosar, State Senator Wendy Rogers, Sheriff David Rhodes, and LD1 Representatives Selina Bliss and Quang Nguyen and many any other prominent conservative figures and candidates for office.
ConCR is a membership organization. However, in the interest of informing voters about important issues and candidates, the appearances of guest speakers of high public interest are open to the public. All those wishing to meet Sheriff Mack and learn about the founding and mission of the Constitutional Sheriff’s association are cordially invited to attend. Doors open at 10:45AM. The meeting will begin promptly at 11:15AM. RSVP’s are requested and should be addressed to concr2018@gmail.com.
