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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsForget It Jake, It's Chinatown...
Florida sheriff acquitted after citing Second Amendment to release armed drunk driverBy Scott Kaufman - RawStory
Sunday, November 3, 2013 10:30 EST
<snip>
A Florida sheriff accused of releasing and altering the records of a suspected drunk driver arrested on a concealed weapon charge was acquitted of official misconduct by a six-person jury.
Sheriff Nick Finch was accused of helping Floyd Parrish, who had been pulled over on suspicion of driving under the influence and was subsequently arrested when it was discovered he was carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. Prosecutors allege that Parrish was booked and his mugshot taken, and that Sheriff Finch nullified the arrest and removed or destroyed evidence of it. Parrishs name had been whited-out from the nights arrest log, and tapes that would have captured the initial stages of his booking were, prosecutors claim, conveniently taped over.
In court, Finch claimed that the records he was accused of removing and destroying never existed, and the prosecution was never able to definitively prove otherwise. The case attracted national attention because Finch and his attorneys enlisted the aid of Second Amendment activists like the Oath Keepers and the John Birch Society. On the stand, state prosecutor John Campbell asked Finch, Dont you agree that the Second Amendment doesnt give you the power to pick and choose which laws youre going to enforce and which laws youre going to not enforce?
The Second Amendment is very specific to keeping and bearing arms, Mr. Campbell, Finch replied. Youre talking about many laws. What I believe is the Second Amendment requires me to make a decision based on that Second Amendment as to whether Im going to go forward with the state charges. Yes, I think the Constitution has to mean something at some point, Mr. Campbell.
Finch was quickly returned to the elected office from which hed been placed on leave after the arrest. Sheriff Nick Finch will be reinstated immediately, Governor Rick Scott said. I would like to thank the members of the jury in Liberty County for their service in this trial. I would also like to thank Interim Sheriff Buddy Money for his service to the state of Florida.
<snip>
Link: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/11/03/florida-sheriff-acquitted-after-citing-second-amendment-to-release-armed-drunk-driver/


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Forget It Jake, It's Chinatown... (Original Post)
WillyT
Nov 2013
OP
bench scientist
(1,107 posts)1. it's ALWAYS florida..
CFLDem
(2,083 posts)3. Must be the abundant sunshine
or lack of seasons that drive people crazy down here...
bench scientist
(1,107 posts)4. or you know, the abundance of guns..
marble falls
(63,159 posts)2. Or Texas.