|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Sovereign citizens often challenge law enforcement officers or government officials by asking, “Where is your oath of office?” Here’s a breakdown of their reasoning and why it’s a misguided tactic:
- Misunderstanding of Legal Authority: Sovereign citizens believe that an official’s legal authority hinges solely on them physically carrying a copy of their oath of office [1, 2]. This is a misconception.
- Attempt to Intimidate: They might use this question as a way to disrupt interactions with law enforcement or stall legal proceedings. It’s a tactic to sow doubt about the legitimacy of the official’s authority [2].
- Misplaced Focus: The focus should be on whether the official is acting within their legal capacity, not whether they have a piece of paper on them [3].
Why This Question Doesn’t Hold Weight:
- Law enforcement officers and government officials derive their authority from the laws they enforce, not from carrying a physical oath document [1].
- Courts won’t entertain arguments based on the absence of a physical oath document.
Important Points to Remember:
- Oaths of office are important, but not having a physical copy on hand doesn’t negate an official’s authority.
- Law enforcement can (and will) enforce the law regardless of being challenged about their oath.
- Sovereign citizens should focus on the legality of an action, not theatrics.
Additional Notes:
- While not required to carry a physical copy, officials do take oaths of office upon assuming their positions [4].
- This tactic can backfire and escalate situations with law enforcement.
Citations:
- [1] National Conference of State Legislatures: Oaths of Office [www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7513757/]
- [2] Anti-Defamation League: The Sovereign Citizen Movement [https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/sovereign-citizen-movement-united-states]
- [3] National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers: Defending Against Sovereign Citizen Extremists [“National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.” NACDL, www.nacdl.org/. ]
- [4] U.S. Senate: Rules of Procedure [“404 Error Page.” U.S. Senate: 404 Error Page, 8 Aug. 2023, [www.senate.gov/reference/reference_index_subjects/Rules_and_Procedure_vrd.htm ]
