August 2, 2020 – Serina Halvorson

To be clear, we at Keep Colorado Free and Open empathize with everyone who has been affected by Covid-19. And this is all the more reason our representatives in Colorado and our nation should be held responsible for opportunistically using this situation to their advantage. We don’t want our loved one’s illness, hospitalization or death to be just a number- a statistical notch in the belts of our leader’s grubby-handed climb to power! Is this or any emergency or safety and security issue worth the cost of losing our freedoms and liberties? What about the rights and liberties of our children and grandchildren?

We need to hold our officials accountable! What a great tragedy to explain to our grandchildren that they don’t live in a free country because while we were reeling from the shock, we didn’t realize that our liberties were being stolen away bit by bit. It is not within the U.S. government’s jurisdiction to protect our health; that duty belongs to each individual within this nation. Security and safety at the cost of freedom and liberty is subjection to tyranny!

Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Our nation’s forefathers instituted the government, that is, delegated power to the government to ensure our interests. WE, the people, allow the government to continue to protect our rights and freedoms so that WE, the people, may protect ourselves and our loved ones. WE, the people, have the choice- the duties and responsibilities to protect our health, to protect our homes, and to safeguard our livelihoods. If WE, the people, allow the government to enjoy that power, we have then given up our independence and autonomy over our very lives.

Our officials are our employees. We, the people, are the employers. Our tax funds pay the salaries of our governors and mayors, senators and representatives, judges and magistrates. If our officials’ actions are not in accordance with our constitution, then they are criminals- they are disobeying the laws of our country and our God! Governor Polis, among others, swore an oath to uphold the Colorado and U.S. constitution during his time in office.

,,Article VII Section 8 of The Colorado constitution states:

Text of Section 8:

,,Oath of Civil Officers.

Every civil officer, except members of the general assembly and such inferior officers as may be by law exempted, shall, before he enters upon the duties of his office, take and subscribe an oath or affirmation to support the constitution of the United States and of the state of Colorado, and to faithfully perform the duties of the office upon which he shall be about to enter.

Each of our elected representatives took an oath on the Bible when he or she entered into office as a public servant. An oath is a solemn promise to do what one has said He would do. He, therefore, binds himself to his word by guaranteeing that he will fulfill that promise

If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth. -Numbers 30:2

Why Governor, have you failed to keep YOUR word? Why have you failed to uphold our sovereign rights to life, liberty and the right to property (each of which our constitution guarantees us)? An oath of office is a very serious promise, and you bound yourself by your word- failure of your oath is a grievous offense! It may be considered treason or a high crime!

How can we believe any promise you have ever made? Any of your campaign promises? Have you no respect for your office, for your state or country, for the Colorado or U.S. constitution or for the PEOPLE you promised to faithfully serve? You have also promised to open up Colorado how many times? But you have failed us in that, too! If you are willing to break your word once or twice, what will keep you from breaking it again and again and again? Perhaps you have no regard for your words; perhaps you never had any intention to act in accordance to your promises; perhaps you have no regard for your constituents.

And you are not the only one! Why are the legislators silent? Why are they not up in arms? What about our judges, our state attorney? Why are they not clamoring for justice? WE, the people, cannot allow you to continue to abuse your office.

As Lord Acton said, “Power tends to corrupt. Absolute power corrupts absolutely!”

To Governor Polis and all other public servants in Colorado and the U.S.- WE, the people, absolutely do NOT consent to your overreach!”