Petitition to Stop the Proposed Jail Presented to Commissioners | Eastern NC Now

    Good evening Mr Commissioners and taxpayers of Beaufort County.

    On January 23rd, I had a thorough tour of the Beaufort County Jail and Sheriff's office, where it was clear to me that both of these facilities are in states of gross neglect and lack proper maintenance. I also had the chance to read an opinion of one of the commissioners that stated our jail is not up-to-date, and that is the justification for replacing the jail. I have to wonder how many Beaufort County citizens replace their houses, cars or computers because they are not up to the current design specifications and standards. That would mean we would have to replace our homes every time the building codes were changed, our cars with each new model year, or computers about once a week, when the new hardware comes out. This type of fiscal irresponsibility would bankrupt even the wealthiest in town, yet this is part of the justification being use to make the case for a new jail. There is a better way. There is a better way to justify the building, and that would be to let the people who will have to pay for the jail vote on the issue. There is a better way, and that better way is to adhere to our Republic form of government and follow the North Carolina Constitution where it addresses financing anything that the taxpayer must pay for.

    Have you ever notice that many times you will find yourself reading or hearing the exact words that are necessary for guidance at just the right time. This happened to me a week ago Sunday. I was at a Pregnancy Center planning meeting when a bible verse was read from Luke 14 28-32 where Jesus said: For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.' How appropriate are those words for where we find ourselves right now in Beaufort County. Some other reading I did in the past several weeks brought the following words of some great Americans to my attention. I'll start with a little know quote from John Adams which reads "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other." Which would indicate a need to look to the bible for guidance. Bringing us back to the words in Luke 14 28-32. Thomas Jefferson said "To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical." Where am I going with this? Allow me to tie it all together.

    Gentlemen, four of you are determined to build a new jail without the planning and research indicated in Luke 14, ignoring the cautioning words of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, by doing what is, sinful and tyrannical. There is a better way, Allow the people their vote, there is a better way, heed the words in Luke and do the proper planning and research, there is a better way, don't force people to pay for something they "disbelieve and abhor." There is a better way, it is called fiscal responsibility, and follow the basic tenants of our form of government which you are sworn to uphold.

    There is a better way to represent the rights and opinions of the citizens. There is a better way than your "Best Guessing" at what is needed, where it is needed and how big it should be. There are four of you that are working against everything that is good, moral, right and Constitutional. Gentlemen there is a better way, and we the citizens of Beaufort County intend for you to find it. This "Executive Order, I've got a pen and a cell phone" attitude that pervades Washington DC will not be tolerated in Washington NC. Because there is a better way!

    Thank you for your time.

    Click here to access the PDF of those who would like the Beaufort County Commission to stop the proposed Beaufort County jail.

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