When is it OK to ignore the law? When you're willing to accept the consequences of ignoring the law.

I suppose these counties can pass their gun-owning sanctuary resolutions if they wish, but they should be aware that there may be consequences. At the very least, their actions may be challenged in court.

We have an immigration sanctuary law enacted by the legislature and signed by the governor here in the State of California. This law requires state and local law enforcement agencies to refuse to cooperate with or assist in federal immigration enforcement activities. The legislature's action has consequences - the feds are trying to withhold money from California, and California has filed suit to compel the feds to pay up. I don't know what the outcome will be - that's up to the courts to determine.

There are forces in my county that want to withdraw my county from the state's sanctuary law, and we're likely to have a major confrontation on that tomorrow at the county Board of Supervisors meeting. I think the Board did a wonderful thing by refusing to put the matter on its agenda because they contend it's not a county matter, but I don't know how long that refusal will stand. There are strong forces both for and against sanctuary that want the Board of Supervisors to take a stand.

Not many people seem to agree with my support of the Board.

But Bruce, you ask if it's "ok." To me, "OK" is a moral judgment, a choice between right and wrong. It's not a legal term. I think too many people intermix morality and legality far too often. Morality is a matter of the choices we make to guide our own lives and our own actions. Legality has to do with the rules we enact to govern our societies, and those rules may be right or wrong.

People say horrible things about "illegal aliens" simply because those immigrants are "illegal" - they've broken the law, so they're bad and therefore not worthy to live here. But the law was enacted by people, and our immigration laws have features built into them that bear an embarrassing resemblance to racism. And to my mind, if our immigration laws are racist, then they are most certainly immoral (i.e., wrong, unjust, etc.). I will fight to my dying day for the enactment of just immigration laws.

As for gun laws, I do not think it's "ok" for anyone to disobey gun controls, but that's my opinion, my moral judgment. But if they defy the law, then they'd better be ready to accept the legal consequences.

-Joe-