By Constitution Staff

Has anyone noticed the increasing tendency of groups to totally ignore the laws of the land, particularly those primary laws contained in the US Constitution? It appears to me that much of this lawlessness stems from the failure of those charged with their enforcement have abandoned their duties. In some cases this failure is due to the leaders of law enforcement receiving orders from the elected government officials with superior authority ordering them to do so.

Last year, and to a lesser extent so far this year, we had the "occupiers" violating all rights of property owners and then resorting to damage and other misconduct, under the guise of their "civil rights." Well, your civil rights end at my, or any other person's, personal and real property and that area around the body.

Another example of this is the continually increasing tendency of tribal officials to arrogantly flout the laws of the USA, as well as State and local. In some cases this is done in a more or less behind the scenes manner with the government officials turning a blind eye to the actions, or actually encouraging the actions, perhaps out of fear of repercussions.

Of course, it has been well publicized that almost two century old treaties with the tribal governments have allowed them to be treated with the status of "nations within the nation." Not having seen any of these treaties, it is not for me to say if the current tribal leadership is exceeding the intent, or letter, of them. It does seem to me that if the actions are in accordance with the terms actually in those treaties, the members of the U.S. Government in the early 1800s were totally delinquent in their conduct. It has also occurred that it is possible that the Government negotiators fully knew what they were doing, and assumed that they would never intend that the excesses now occurring would be attempted, or that their followers would bow and allow such actions to be accepted.

In any event, we are now witnessing a complete rejection of the "Rule of Law" envisioned by the founders being exhibited by some of the tribal government leaders. Tribes have for some years been issuing "nation" auto license plates, at a reported substantial lower cost than the state issued plates, and in some cases to those not entitled. It has been my understanding that the Tribal license plates should only be issued to those actually living on Tribal owned lands. Tribes have acquired lands not under their ownership and induced the BIA into placing such acquired lands into its trust. Such lands then are removed from the tax rolls of the county in question, thus raising the taxes assessed against the rest of the land owners, both business and private. Then, various commercial businesses are installed in such lands which operate in competition with other non-Indian businesses at a distinct advantage.

In some cases this has been done in apparent violation of existing laws. Such an example now receiving wide publicity is the ongoing uproar over the Kialegee Tribal Town, a branch of the Muscogee (Creek) tribe, starting construction of a casino in a residential and school area of Broken Arrow, OK. This is a group of about 400 members, most of whom reportedly live in and around the town of Weeletka which is at least fifty miles away. It should be built there to provide jobs for the tribal members. The chief calls himself the "Town King" and in his pictures in media appears to have an attitude of arrogance not seen by me in the past. It was reported that he rejected the BIA order to cease construction. There is some indication that the Broken Arrow Council members were informed of this months earlier that admitted.

It seems to me that the tribes should abide by federal and state laws if they are going to enjoy the benefits of citizenship in the USA and conduct their affairs accordingly.

Robert W. McDowell, Jr.

Broken Arrow, OK