When I was a child, I remember a common saying heard around town: “Support your local sheriff.” I believe this slogan was even made into a movie staring James Garner. It sounds a bit outdated but after reading many news briefs about what has been happening around the country, this idea is coming back into reality.

For example, on June 14, a group of citizens living in Grant County, Ore., gathered together at the local high school gymnasium to support their local sheriff, who was helping them defend themselves against the U.S. Forestry Service. It sounds hard to believe but the U.S. Forestry Service was causing illegal road closures, mismanagement of federal wooded lands and denying the use of grazing permits for cattle on federal lands, permits which were granted by the federal government in the first place. Sheriff Glenn Palmer knows it is his duty to uphold and defend the Constitution and has been helping the people of Grant County defend themselves against the tyranny of the federal government during illegal procedures. He did a great service to his people.

Another example of a great sheriff’s duty is the famous sheriff from Arizona: Sheriff Joe Arpaio. He put his prisoners to work caring for the local animal shelter where you can adopt a pet, growing the prison’s own vegetables and food harvested all by hand from a donated farm, working a hog farm, which supplies meat and fertilizer and a working a Christmas tree nursery selling trees during the holidays. His department is run every year for a budget of under $3 million. Those inmates are kept busy and are self-sustaining with the food and services they provide for the community.

Another example also comes from Arizona. As the former sheriff of Graham County, Richard Mack is a long-time crusader for freedom and individual rights. As a sheriff, he filed a lawsuit challenging the Brady bill to stop the federal government from forcing unconstitutional mandates on the people. He won the decision at the U.S. Supreme Court level and was thrown into the national limelight. He believes we should restore the Constitution as the supreme law of the land, and he is now traveling around the country speaking to many communities about the principles our country was founded upon such as limited gun control, law enforcement, States’ rights and the oath of office. He also believes we should depend upon our local officials, especially the sheriff, to stand against federal intervention. Some bold words for all those who don’t believe in a limited federal government. The county sheriff is our only defense.

So if we are expecting the federal government to step in and save us in the event of a natural disaster or economic crisis, it will not happen. But supporting our local sheriff’s office will have a considerable positive affect on us as a community. They are the last of the true patriots who can truly help their fellow citizens. Support your local sheriff.

Loxley resident Valerie J. Steimle is the author of four books. Contact her at valeriesteimle@yahoo.com, visit her website at www.strengtheningour home.com or check out her blog at http://www.valeriesteimle.blogspot.com/