Sheriff Wayne Ivey went viral June 12 for his remarks during a press conference in which he promised the use of deadly force against anyone who “threw a brick, firebomb or pointed a gun at one of his deputies,” during any protests, marches, etc.
His thinking is not wrong. The sheriff should stand up for and protect the brave men and women who wear the uniform every day. And right now tensions are high after some protests in Los Angeles turned violent in response to actions by officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
But before I get into why he shouldn’t have made those remarks, there are a few things I’d like to get on the record.
First off, I support law enforcement officers everywhere. My son-in-law is a an officer of the law and I know full-well the dangers he faces on the job. Second, I am in favor of deporting people who come to our country illegally or overstay their visas.
Yes, I understand the hardships many face in the countries of their birth, but there is a legal way to enter the United States. Retired Judge A.B. Majeed, an immigrant himself, recently told me that he waited five years for his green card and another five years to become a U.S. Citizen.
“I don’t think that anyone is against illegal immigration more than the legal immigrant, the one who came here legally, had to do their time, wait, stand in line and do everything right,” Majeed said in a story earlier this year. “But, most of all, I’m against immigrants who come here legally or illegally and violate the law. I feel that law is the greatest friend of the immigrant.”
I couldn’t agree more.
The punishment for entering the US illegally is deportation. Here are just a few examples of how some of the other countries around the world handle illegal entry, according to World Population Review.
Enter Italy illegally and you can face between five and 15 years in prison. You’ll get up to 10 years if you do so in Pakistan. Entering the United Kingdom illegally will result in a six-month prison spell plus deportation. France? One year in prison for the first offense and three years if it happens a second time. Sneaking into Malaysia can not only result in five years of prison but also a whipping of up to five strikes on your body.
So, you see, it’s difficult for me to sympathize with those in California or elsewhere who are throwing molotov cocktails, bricks, burning cars and smashing in windows protesting deportation efforts by ICE officers.
If you favor open borders, then perhaps a peaceful protest aimed at changing this country’s immigration laws and regulations might make more sense.
That’s why Sheriff Ivey was not wrong in his thinking.
However, was there really a need for him to say the things he did?
I know Brevard County is not quite Mayberry, but in the 24 years I’ve lived here I can’t recall one instance of looting, rioting or protests turning violent and ugly. The people of Brevard deserve to be treated with the same respect they show when expressing their First Amendment rights.
The people of Brevard are passionate but they are good. Those who protest here obey laws and it would be shocking anyone holding a sign or flag or chanting slogans were to become violent against the people we pay to protect us.
It just doesn’t happen and the sheriff should know that.
Making comments like he did only serves to incite and alienate those who have different opinions. I hope that wasn’t his intention because there’s really no need to intimidate the people of the Space Coast.
Of course, if someone does try and hurt a deputy, then…
Contact Torres at jtorres@floridatoday.com. You can follow him on X @johnalbertorres or on Facebook at facebook.com/FTjohntorres.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Torres: Sheriff’s thinking was not wrong regarding protesters, but… | Opinion
Reporting by John A. Torres, Florida Today / Florida Today
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