(Source: MIRS.news, Published 04/21/2023) It's a pretty good bet that the Livingston County sheriff won't be on the invite list to attend the Governor's signing of the "Red Flag" legislation that passed the House and Senate last week.
Sheriff Michael Muprhy told 6 News in Lansing, "If the laws stay in the current state, my officers will not enforce red flag laws; it's just that simple."
It's unclear if this statement puts him on a legal collision course with the state, but it's a good bet somebody will challenge this, unless it gets out of hand and other sheriffs go rogue over this law as well.
The Republican-elected law enforcement official declared that the law is "ripe for abuse," which he reports he has seen firsthand regarding personal protection orders (PPOs). He said judges sign them “without even looking at them a lot of the time.”
He has already decided that the law is unconstitutional, and he argues the public doesn't "want us enforcing something that is going to end up being unconstitutional."
In response, Attorney General Dana Nessel said the job of law enforcement is to enforce the laws.
The Attorney General says allowing the courts to confiscate weapons from those who might misuse them will save lives, but the Sheriff countered he is not sure they will. "This is an emotionally charged topic. Nothing good comes out of anything when we make decisions, pass laws, etc. based on emotion."
The Sheriff concedes that the Attorney General may have the bulk of public opinion on her side, but he does not represent the entire state.
"This is Livingston County. I'm the sheriff and I don't believe my constituents want the Red Flag law enforced," he said.
Nessel confessed there is not much she can do about his refusal except preach around the state to other law enforcement that the law does work. As for Murphy, she believes he is not doing the proper thing, as he asserts.
"Whenever law enforcement has an opportunity to prevent someone from being murdered or taking their own life and refuses to do anything, that's their job to protect the public," she said.
The GOP sheriff, with this bumpy relationship with the Democratic A.G., wants to do this: "Frankly, I'd like to go out and have a beer with Dana Nessel . . . no cell phones, no recording, just a couple of beers and a conversation. It would be interesting," he opined in what might be the understatement of the year.
