sheriffmack4congress

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TROPHY CASE


  • ComboCommenter
    2012-02-04

I am Sheriff Richard Mack. I'm challenging SOPA and PCIP Sponsor Lamar Smith (R-TX) to a Primary in a heavily conservative district. AMA by sheriffmack4congressin IAmA

[–]sheriffmack4congress[S] 10 points11 points ago

My first service duty weapon was a Smith & Wesson .357, then switched to a Sig Sauer 9mm. I like a little more firepower, so today I shoot a Sig Sauer .40 caliber.

I am Sheriff Richard Mack. I'm challenging SOPA and PCIP Sponsor Lamar Smith (R-TX) to a Primary in a heavily conservative district. AMA by sheriffmack4congressin IAmA

[–]sheriffmack4congress[S] 50 points51 points ago

My concern then and my concern now is the SWAT team mentality that seems to be so pervasive across our country's law enforcement agencies. I don't believe it was a question of the no-knock warrant, but more the mentality of the officers involved.

This was a search warrant! This wasn't a raid on crime bosses or the mafia. This was a warrant to see if he had anything bad in his house.

There's nothing the police did right in this case. He should have been stopped as soon as he left his job, or they could have done a traffic stop. But to wait until he got home, knowing he was a Marine and probably had weapons, was ridiculous.

Jose Guerena should be alive today and taking his kids to school every day.

I am Sheriff Richard Mack. I'm challenging SOPA and PCIP Sponsor Lamar Smith (R-TX) to a Primary in a heavily conservative district. AMA by sheriffmack4congressin IAmA

[–]sheriffmack4congress[S] 37 points38 points ago

That's a good question. I would say, look at my record. I have dedicated my life to defending the little guy against big brother government. I have defended Amish farmers against the FDA and I have sued the Federal government on behalf of State's rights and local autonomy.

I will stand on my record and what I've done. I'm not a "politician" and never wish to be.

The problem with our government today is that our leaders believe they are here to be our rulers. I will never be a part of that. I will go to Washington to be your servant and to protect and defend your individual rights. My record is very clear on that. And after my term is up, I'll support you going to Washington to take my place.

Sadly, my in-flight movie today was not Rampart.

I am Sheriff Richard Mack. I'm challenging SOPA and PCIP Sponsor Lamar Smith (R-TX) to a Primary in a heavily conservative district. AMA by sheriffmack4congressin IAmA

[–]sheriffmack4congress[S] 167 points168 points ago

Thanks so much for the excellent questions. I look forward to being your Congressman.

  1. I already took a tour with one of the heads of Rackspace and I very much appreciated it. It made me even more concerned about what's going with this type of censorship. I still can't believe that Lamar Smith is holding strong on this ridiculous legislation that is going harm people in our district. Also, you don't have to worry about me accidentally supporting legislation that's going to give more power to Washington DC.

  2. Get government out of the way. One of the greatest expenses for the medical industry in America is malpractice insurance and litigation. If we address tort reform, that would help reduce costs immensely. We do not need the federal government attempting to regulate the healthcare industry. I will never support the Federal government forcing citizens to buy a private health insurance product determined by the federal government.

  3. If it was good enough for George Washington, it should be good enough for Lamar Smith: 8 years.

  4. The Constitution is designed to protect individual freedom. I would support a law that limits what corporations can contribute to campaigns, as well has harsher penalties for those who violate that law, but I would not support an amendment on that issue.

  5. That is certainly not a Federal issue nor a major issue for me. If the local school boards want to make that kind of curriculum available, that's fine with me.

  6. As a Congressman, I don't know how much involvement I would have in Texas redistricting, but I certainly don't like it being used as a political toy. I hope they get this redistricting problem in Texas taken care of soon so that we can get back to work.

I am Sheriff Richard Mack. I'm challenging SOPA and PCIP Sponsor Lamar Smith (R-TX) to a Primary in a heavily conservative district. AMA by sheriffmack4congressin IAmA

[–]sheriffmack4congress[S] 277 points278 points ago

There certainly is a legitimate place for Federal and State government. It's just that at the county level is where government should be the most responsive to the needs of the people and protecting the rights of the individual.

The First Amendment simply says that Congress "shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion." The entire purpose was to stop the King from forcing his subjects to be members of the Church of England and tithe to the Church. As a believer in the Constitution, I can't support the idea that the intent was to prevent people from practicing their beliefs in any public venue.

That being said, I'm extremely religiously tolerant. I've never been a proponent of things like school prayer, which I don't believe is an integral part of our system.

I am Sheriff Richard Mack. I'm challenging SOPA and PCIP Sponsor Lamar Smith (R-TX) to a Primary in a heavily conservative district. AMA by sheriffmack4congressin IAmA

[–]sheriffmack4congress[S] 839 points840 points ago

Having been an undercover narcotics officer, I discovered first hand the futility and failure of the war on drugs. There's two parts to that: First, I do not want our nation's police officers pretending that they should protect us from our own stupidity or appetites. Secondly, we should not be asking officers to risk their lives for such ridiculous reasons.

We should legalize marijuana.

I do not use drugs, and I hope that other people will not use drugs, but I have no right as a police officer to take away someone's liberty because they smoke marijuana. That is absolutely absurd.

I am Sheriff Richard Mack. I'm challenging SOPA and PCIP Sponsor Lamar Smith (R-TX) to a Primary in a heavily conservative district. AMA by sheriffmack4congressin IAmA

[–]sheriffmack4congress[S] 1378 points1379 points ago

I oppose allowing the President of the United States the power to take our military to war without a formal declaration of war from Congress, so I therefore do not support any of the wars we've been involved in in the Middle East. I do not believe that the US has any authority to appoint itself the police officer of the world.

The Patriot Act was co-authored by Sen. Jon Kyl, and I told him to his face that it was the most unconstitutional law promulgated by Congress in the last 50 years, now only exceeded in it's unconstitutionality of the 2012 NDAA. The attacks of 9/11 did not occur because we lacked a Patriot Act, and destroying the principles of the Fourth Amendment to go after terrorists is a compromise I hope all Americans will oppose.

Having been an undercover narcotics officer, I discovered first hand the futility and failure of the war on drugs. There's two parts to that: First, I do not want our nation's police officers pretending that they should protect us from our own stupidity or appetites. Secondly, we should not be asking officers to risk their lives for such ridiculous reasons.

I am Sheriff Richard Mack. I'm challenging SOPA and PCIP Sponsor Lamar Smith (R-TX) to a Primary in a heavily conservative district. AMA by sheriffmack4congressin IAmA

[–]sheriffmack4congress[S] 118 points119 points ago

I am an Oath Keeper because I believe that people who take an oath to defend the Constitution should keep it.

America isn't in the trouble it's in today because we follow the Constitution too strictly. Far from it. Nobody has contributed to that problem more than politicians who fail to keep their oath. I will keep my oath.

I am Sheriff Richard Mack. I'm challenging SOPA and PCIP Sponsor Lamar Smith (R-TX) to a Primary in a heavily conservative district. AMA by sheriffmack4congressin IAmA

[–]sheriffmack4congress[S] 184 points185 points ago

Yes, I am challenging Smith in the Republican primary. Here in Texas you merely need to show up and ask for the Party primary ballot. Anyone can vote in either party's primary.

I am Sheriff Richard Mack. I'm challenging SOPA and PCIP Sponsor Lamar Smith (R-TX) to a Primary in a heavily conservative district. AMA by sheriffmack4congressin IAmA

[–]sheriffmack4congress[S] 310 points311 points ago

Thank you for your support. There are plenty of ways to help. We need volunteers, we need people to pound the pavement, we need people to talk with their friends in person and online, and yes, I hate to say this, but money is part of this political campaign. Lamar Smith has raised over $1 million and has received over $400,000 from SOPA supporters.

I am Sheriff Richard Mack. I'm challenging SOPA and PCIP Sponsor Lamar Smith (R-TX) to a Primary in a heavily conservative district. AMA by sheriffmack4congressin IAmA

[–]sheriffmack4congress[S] 599 points600 points ago

I just held a conference in Las Vegas and the local Occupy group asked to meet with me. I told them what I'll tell you. They can occupy anything they like so long as they're not breaking the law. I'll fight and die for their right to peaceably assemble and protest.

What I abhor is some of the ruthless responses from some of our police forces. I detest putting people on their knees and spraying them with pepper spray. I can honestly tell you, as a career law enforcement officer, I've never maced or pepper sprayed anyone in my life.

RE: My "Colbertness"; It feels pretty good, but he's not as funny as I am.

I am Sheriff Richard Mack. I'm challenging SOPA and PCIP Sponsor Lamar Smith (R-TX) to a Primary in a heavily conservative district. AMA by sheriffmack4congressin IAmA

[–]sheriffmack4congress[S] 310 points311 points ago

Any citizen has the right to lobby a representative.

What I have a problem with is the extreme amounts of money that flow to our congressmen. The biggest problem I have is that huge corporations donate to both parties corrupting the system. If our politicians had an ounce of integrity, they would stop that sort of thing. I intend to work towards that.

I am Sheriff Richard Mack. I'm challenging SOPA and PCIP Sponsor Lamar Smith (R-TX) to a Primary in a heavily conservative district. AMA by sheriffmack4congressin IAmA

[–]sheriffmack4congress[S] 507 points508 points ago

Probably 20 years ago. Government doesn't have the authority to tell me what I can do on the internet or anywhere else. The last thing I want is for the Federal government to control the internet.

I specifically heard about SOPA some two or 3 months ago I thought it was a joke at first.