Clarence Dupnik says he's earned the right to speak his mind

[ProudProgressiveNow]

Source: Arizona Republic (Azcentral)

Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik was leaving a sheriffs convention in Palm Springs, Calif., a week ago Saturday when he got word of a shooting just outside Tucson. "Seven people shot. That's all we knew," he said.

On the six-hour drive back, he heard more details on the radio. That it was at a town-hall meeting outside a supermarket. That U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot point-blank in the head and was clinging to life. That the gunman, young and possibly mentally unstable, kept firing and killing and wounding others before being tackled and disarmed.

"I just got angrier and angrier on my way back to Tucson," said Dupnik, a longtime family friend of Giffords' and her parents.

He arrived at headquarters and about a half-hour later was standing before reporters to give a briefing. He started speaking about his friend, Giffords, and about his sadness and his shock. Then, he gave voice to his anger.



Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/01/17/20110117gabrielle-giffords-clarence-dupnik.html

[hlthe2b]

1. He most certainly has... Thank heavens he's in a safe seat

as I'm sure the RW has already tried to do anything possible to get him out.

[boppers]

2. He's got 30 years in the seat.

He'll die there if he wants to, for good reason. He's got 30 years as Sheriff, 52 years as an AZ lawman, and 75 years as a local. Even when I disagreed with him, I thought his argument was worth considering.

[LemmingWarrior]

3. Sheriff Clarence Dupnik had every right

to speak the truth. I want to see the left more vocal--the mouth-breathers aren't the only ones with a pair.....of lungs. ;)

[freshwest]

4. I hope this will be the start of a change of the atmosphere in AZ.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

14. Is that even possible?

Some of the reactions, particularly from the TeaBaggers, have been very telling. It is as though they took Sarah'd words to heart, "Don't retreat, reload."

[defendandprotect]

28. T-Baggers are owned by Koch Bros=oil industry .... people who profit from war + corruption......

But what about Arizona and its citizens -- ?

How many of them really want to become Mexico -- ?

How many of them want more incidents like the shootings at the Giffords' event -- ?

I'm amazed that it hasn't "triggered" a leave the guns behind movement!

[rbixby]

34. For some reason the mentality with a lot of folks is

always 'when there's a shooting like that, it only happened because there weren't enough people with guns around'. I don't understand the mentality that every situation would be better if there were more guns around. I'm all for responsible gun ownership, but I think that there's too many people out there who don't know how to properly handle their weapons, and by having a lot of amateurs out there with guns you're just adding to the potential for more innocent people to get hurt.
Its my thinking that actually less guns are probably a better idea, the fewer guns there are around, the less likely someone is to get shot.

[defendandprotect]

55. Exactly -- no gun, no shooting --

[xchrom]

5. recommend

[Historic NY]

6. "This is a man who cares deeply about the community and his job and about doing it right,"

[Overseas]

25. That's what my friend in Tucson told me too. //nt

[Downwinder]

7. I notice that the ones criticizing Dupnik are Arpaio sycophants.

Clarance is fine Arizona silver, not to be compared to imported base metal.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

17. real imitation chinese lead

[LawnKorn]

8. Sheriff Dupnik knew the right wing hate was building

From the article:

"I'd been feeling those things for years," Dupnik said in an interview with The Arizona Republic. "I decided to say what I was feeling."

Violence as a product of right wing hate has been a long time coming and showed itself in Pima County. If we don't put a stop to the right wing talk machine now, it will become easier for them to seek the second amendment solution with each succeeding assassination.

[LawnKorn]

9. K&R

[RayStar]

10. Truth and honesty

His words speak truth and honesty. So proud of him for doing so.

[NuclearDem]

11. I didn't realize you needed to 'earn' the right to speak your mind...

No offense to Sheriff Dupnik intended...

[GoCubsGo]

13. I think the good sheriff was aiming that at his critics.

Those flag-waving, jingoistic ignoramuses are the ones who seem to think people have to "earn" their rights. Except the right to own guns, of course.

[24601]

16. On the contrary - there is scant evidence that he believes that the

individual rights secured for us by the founders and codified in the Constitution apply to us all. He has every right to speak, whether he's earned it or not - and so do the rest of us.

Our Constutition, specifically articulated by the 10th Amendment, empowers states and individuals and constrains the federal government - that has never been repealed.

"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

[GoCubsGo]

18. That wasn't my point.

My point was that this is how his critics beleive. He was just answering them, not speaking about what he believes. He was speaking in terms that they understand, because they DON'T understand.

[24601]

23. I'm always more concerned that that it's far more important to

understand for those who project armed power on behalf of the state - and can grab your ass & throw it in jail until a court overturns it - then it ever is for private citizens.

The problem is that he hasn't shown that HE understands it. Screw his critics - they can't search my house & car, plant evidence, & throw me in jail when I disagree. And it they try to force it or shoot me, I can shoot back in defense - try using that with law enforcement - it doesn't work.

[Can of Whoop-ass]

46. Uh oh

?w=460&h=306

Palin, a grizzly doesn't run off and hide in a cave. The Sheriff don't like her image of "Annie Oakley" on crack. Or Todd, the bum!
It's bad enough the Sheriff has to put up with a delusional Pug wingnut Governor Jan Brewer.

[NuclearDem]

26. Fair enough

[Thor_MN]

30. No one does, but he has.

[Iggo]

33. Yeah, that was my first thought, too.

[Enthusiast]

37. Plus one! nt

[ArizonaLiberal]

12. K&R

[molly77]

15. Sherif Dupnik reminds me of Rocky Anderson, the mayor

of Salt Lake City during the bush reign of terror. Only politician who had the courage to speak out in the midst of insanity. He should be on the national democratic scene. Probably ran into a string of bad luck like Don Seigleman.It would be interesting to know where he is now. He and Sherif Dupnik would be a great team. Tour America .

[greenmutha]

57. Rocky Anderson is alive and well and still fighting the good fight!

He is hoping to be even MORE effective now that he isn't the mayor anymore. Check out this story just from last November:



Rocky Anderson says George W. Bush should be prosecuted

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) - Salt Lake's former mayor says America's former president should be prosecuted for alleged crimes in office.

Rocky Anderson told ABC 4 that he plans to protest George W. Bush's visit to Utah.

President Bush will be signing his new book, “Decision Points,” Friday at the Costco in Sandy.

But Anderson says Bush committed several crimes while in office and should be punished.



More: http://www.abc4.com/content/news/state/story/Rocky-Anderson-says-George-W-Bush-should-be/xcQxqC56BEi4k_81ExZeSA.cspx

[1American]

19. The Sheriff

Freedom of speech apparently applies only to Republic Party conservatives.

[peace13]

35. And Tea Baggers! n/t

[rasputin1952]

20. One doesn't have to "earn" the Right to speak one's mind...

in this country, they are born with that Right.

So this man with 52 years of public service has just as much Right as Beck or Limbaugh to air his opinion. Fascinating at how those that never served a single day in public service find themselves in a position where they think they can dictate how others should think or feel, but deny another citizen the same Right.

Good for Sheriff Dupnik, carry on sir.

[mbperrin]

21. I was pleased to hear an honest reaction from the mouth of an elected

official, rather than the usual recycled much (used to be called shit) that passes for public discourse these days. I hope he keeps it up.

[Odin2005]

22. I am getting angry at the RWers that are accusing him of being a "left-wing hack".

[freshwest]

44. Proves they know they're right wing hacks, already. On a subconscious level, at least.

They can't help but tell on themselves.

[liberal N proud]

24. Yes, Sheriff, you do have the right to speak your mind

Don't let the right wing mob beat you down.

We must stand behind the Sheriff.

[defendandprotect]

27. Nor only that, being someone with a conscience, he is welcome to speak his mind...!!

[RoccoR5955]

29. I'm glad that he spoke out... Nobody else has.

Well, not nobody, but nobody that the Right Wing media will listen to. It's about time someone who they will listen to has spoken out.

[peace13]

31. Be sure to go out to the Pima County site and share your kind words.

It only takes a minute.
http://pimasheriff.org/contacts/comments-for-the-sheriff/

[RC]

32. He did earn the right to speak because of his age and experience, he knew what he was talking about.

"He added, "I'm 75 years old. Thirty years sheriff, 52 years a cop. Maybe I've earned the right to speak my mind.""

[Enthusiast]

36. Either Sheriff Clarence Dupnik speaks

or all we hear are Teabagger talking points.

[elleng]

38. He's right, and he's a great guy.

"When you look at unbalanced people, how they respond to the vitriol that comes out of certain mouths about tearing down the government - the anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous.

"And, unfortunately, Arizona has become sort of the capital," he said. "We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry. . . . I think people who are unbalanced are especially susceptible to vitriol."

[Zambero]

39. Politicizing the tragedy?

A nice try at a talking point from the far right. What has been going on for years is a studied politicizing of the 2nd Amendment, with a lenient interpretation on the part of the gun lobby that "anything goes", even to the point of blanket permission allowing concealed weapons at public events. Couple this with an atmosphere of threats and violent rhetoric from the radical right -- yes, "2nd Amendment solutions" implying that guns are part of the solution -- and a scenario for the tragedy in Tucson is created. Safeguards against gun violence are completely stripped away, particularly when weapons fall into the hands of mentally unstable individuals. Sheriff Dupnik realizes the cause and effect and isn't afraid to acknowledge it.

[TxVietVet]

40. The sheriff is probably being targeted as we speak by

caribou barbie, druggie limpballs, beckkk and the rest of the conservanazi teabaggin' kkkluckers.:evilfrown:
I wouldn't put it past the KOCK Brothers to start buying an election in that county. The conservanazis have been exposed for what they are doing. Preaching hate and demonizing Dems, Progressives, Liberals and traitor Republiklans.

[nxylas]

45. No "probably" about it

RW playboy Taki's mag had an article on him entitled "The Worst Sheriff in America". The default Kochsucker position these days is that no-one is to blame for Loughner's actions except Loughner, but simultaneously, it was all Sheriff Dupnik's fault.

[texshelters]

41. Rethug A-holes want to shut him down but will take up arms if

we point out Sarah Palin's violent language and her target map.

Of course he has the right. It's called the First Amendment. And he didn't use violent rhetoric. Try that sometime Palin, Angle, Beck, etc.

Peace,
Tex Shelters

[hootinholler]

42. I have a problem with the notion that *anyone* has to *earn* the right to speak their mind

This RW meme of speech from one who is worthy versus speech from one who is not worthy really grates my nerves.

Until we can change those things on that level, we can only expect more of the same.

-Hoot

[russspeakeasy]

43. I thank the Sheriff.....

[InvisibleTouch]

47. Of course he should speak his mind.

We need a clear, calm voice of reason.

Good on him.

[demigoddess]

48. of course he has a right to speak his mind

if all the tea partiers can say what they want so can he.

[maritzasolito]

52. Any five year old can see why he spoke,,,,,,,,,,

He in in law enforcement to protect the public...........

[Imajika]

49. He is entitled to speak his mind...

..but he should not have offered those opinions in a press conference that should have been about nothing other than facts. It was unprofessional and inappropriate.

Throwing out the opinion that right wing talkers or "heated rhetoric" influenced Laughner with not a single shred of evidence to back it up, and doing so in what should have been a fact based press conference, was a mistake. Period.

Even if one entirely agrees with Dupnik, there is still a time and place for him to offer his opinion on the matter - and that first press conference was most certainly not it. As a law enforcement professional, he should have known not to inject his opinion at that time and in that venue.

By offering his theories in that first press conference he led many to believe there might have been some evidence to back up his feelings and, so far at least, there is simply zero evidence Laughner paid any attention to, or cared one iota, what Palin, Beck or any other teabagger had to say. From almost the start there has been nothing that seriously links Laughner to the right, nothing to indicate he was part of some right wing conspiracy, not even anything that indicates he even listened to right wing talk at all. And please stop with the "but, but he favored the gold standard so he must be a teabagger" crap. He also claimed to be an atheist, put a flag burning video on his website, railed at the military for having bibles, some friends report he was a "truther", took pictures of himself in a red gstring with his gun, etc. Trying to connect him to the right is almost certainly an exercise in futility and has been both depressing and comical to watch. Laughner is a likely paranoid schizophrenic and believing in government conspiracies is not uncommon with a subset of those who have this disease and become violent.

Dupnik should have just aired his views outside the realm of an official press conference. Suggesting informally that the "tone of the debate" has been vicious and could have an affect on some people would have been perfectly reasonable and responsible - doing so officially and within his capacity as a lead investigator in what should have been a fact based press conference was just a bad idea.

Dupnik has been in the law enforcement business for years and most certainly has the right to speak his mind, but he also has an obligation to professionalism and I rather suspect that most law enforcement professionals would have kept a post shooting press conference fact based and devoid of opinion. Were he not the top law enforcement official in Pima county he would probably have been fired.

[sulphurdunn]

50. The sheriff stated his opinion

publicly that he believes right wing hate rhetoric is an impetus to violence. The pantheon of right wing hate talkers have publicly expressed their collective. opinion that it doesn't. How are these opinions different? The sheriff never stated his opinion as fact. The right wing ranters don't dare state theirs as fact because right wing homicidal violence is undeniable. The only legitimate points of dispute are causes, not effects and certainly not propriety.

[Imajika]

51. Did you even read my post before responding?

The issue isn't that he expressed his opinion, it is WHERE and WHEN he expressed it.

[ProudDad]

53. Why?

He stated an inconvenient truth where it could get the most exposure!

That's courage in action...

Something almost NEVER seen in today's bullshit political scene...

It was ENTIRELY appropriate that he state the truth of the situation here in the New Mississippi!

[sulphurdunn]

60. Yes, I read your post.

Did you? Public service is not a muzzle on freedom of speech.

[ProudDad]

54. It IS a fact that Arizona is psychotic about

divide and conquer...

and their insane "gun culture"...

The sheriff's job is to handle the bloody side-effects of Arizona's bullshit right-wing policies...

It was an ENTIRELY appropriate forum for speaking the truth...

[Imajika]

56. No, it was not the appropriate forum at all...

A post shooting press conference like that is supposed to be fact based information regarding the what, when, who, where and why. Not the what, when, who, where, and my theories of why with no evidence to back them up.

"It IS a fact that Arizona is psychotic about divide and conquer..."

Huh? Arizonans go the polls and vote. Sometimes they elect Democrats, and other times elect Republicans. I am not sure what your "divide and conquer" babble has anything to do with. Giffords was a blue dog, pro gun rights Democrat by the way.

"and their insane 'gun culture'..."

The majority of Arizonans, like most Americans, do not support gun control. Get over it.

"The sheriff's job is to handle the bloody side-effects of Arizona's bullshit right-wing policies..."

His job is to be a law enforcement professional as a lead investigator in an assassination attempt. That means in his official capacity at press conferences, not providing opinions on what may have motivated the shooter with absolutely no evidence to back it up. There is no evidence that anything any right wing blowhard, Sarah Palin, Beck or any teabagger had to say had a thing to do with Loughner's assassination attempt/killing spree.

Had he made the very same comments in a different forum, and made very clear that he has no evidence to support his theory but that he just can't help believing hostile, mostly right wing political rhetoric may have played some role, then I think more people would have applauded his comments.

[whathappened]

59. your not giving this wize man

credit for thinking on his feet in the heat of the moment , he new just what he was saying and new the responces that would come from his statment , he is use to flushing out the dirt,that being the hate that is being hand fed to all the nuts of this country , notice the ones coming out of the woodworks , give this man a big thumbs up for out smarting the voices out there who are stirring the pot 24/7 to divideing this country into red and blue states

[ProudDad]

61. It's apparent you don't have a clue what's going on here in the New Mississippi

and why should you from your lofty perch in Virginia...

(Another execrable Southern State -- and yes, I've lived there!)

"conversation" OVER... :eyes:

[bobbolink]

58. Every law enforcement officer has the DUTY to express opinions about crime.

Its done all the time, and there is no reason for this to be an exception.

[Name removed]

62. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[defendandprotect]

63. k/r -- and he's made a great deal of sense!!