Editor Coastland Times,

In today’s Coastland Times, 8-25-2019, an article about the Veto of HB370 by Governor Roy Cooper appeared on the Editorial Page.

The Governor accused the Republican House and Senate of pandering to their base.

The bill titled “An Act to Require Compliance with Immigration Retainers and Administrative Warrants” has to do with holding prisoners involved in felonies or DUIs until ICE (Immigration Control and Enforcement) can determine if they are wanted on federal charges.

If the Republicans are pandering to their base, does that mean by vetoing the Bill, Governor Cooper is equally pandering to his base. The Governor said that the Bill is unconstitutional (doesn’t explain how), will weaken law enforcement in North Carolina by mandating sheriffs to do the job of federal agents, using local resources that could hurt their ability  to protect their counties.

While doing research for this letter, I discovered that several sheriffs in urban areas of the State, ran for office on a platform of not supporting ICE.

Hmmmmm, silly me, I was under the impression that Federal, State, and local law enforcement always worked in concert.

If the IRS calls the local sheriff’s office and asks for help tracking down a criminal does the sheriff simply say “Oh, I’m sorry, we don’t do Federal work.” Or does the sheriff say “How can we help?’

Illegal Immigration is a growing problem in our Country and this bill would not have solved all of the problems, but at least it would be a start.

We are a Country driven by a “Rule of Law.”

We can’t pick and choose what laws we want to enforce.

However, it looks to me like the Republicans are the Law and Order Party and the Democrats are the “What laws do we want to enforce this week” Party.

I don’t believe that all Democrats in the House and Senate believe like Governor Cooper.

A good test of that theory would be to bring up a vote to overturn the Veto.

Yes, Governor Cooper, be careful when you point at a group and call them panderers, your other three fingers are pointing right back at you!

God Bless America!

George J. Pitonyak

Kitty Hawk

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