We were in Oklahoma today and this evening. We expect to stay in Oklahoma until Tuesday and possibly Wednesday and then onto Arkansas.
Today started with Church and then lunch with the Pastor. After lunch it was a dash to a formal meeting put together by Kaye Beach in downtown Oklahoma City. Oklahoma has already passed and signed into law anti-Real ID legislation. Kaye Beach is an example to us all. She is living proof of what a person can do even in uncharted waters. The word "cannot" is not in Kaye's vocabulary.
Tonight the ACLU and the ACLJ were talked about in the same sentence. Many think the Stop Real ID Coalition have a Republican bias and that simply is not the case. The ACLU has been opposed to Real ID before it was ever signed into law. The point being Real ID transcends party affiliation, religious preference, race, gender and any one of a hundred different ways those we oppose would like to see us splintered. When it comes to protecting our Constitution we all should and are standing united.
The people of OK-SAFE are true examples of what groups can be and do in their individual states. OK-SAFE has a proven track record of success. I say it often and perhaps it cannot be said enough that I strongly encourage citizens in each State to create an OK-SAFE of their own. Citizens in Kentucky are doing just that. I am excited about going to Arkansas this week. The citizens there are rallying to protect the rights of the citizens and the State. Michigan is doing the same. Rep. John Garfield and his brother Paul are fighting for all people in Michigan and bringing together people based on common beliefs. There are other States that are doing the same. Ken Sellers of OK-SAFE can be reached at (918) 430-4364. Reach out and contact Ken.
The meeting tonight was billed as Real ID Education Night- The people and groups were very gracious. They understood the importance of insuring Real ID, the fox, does not comeback dressed in sheep's clothing. We also discussed EDL's (Enhanced Driver's Licenses). Some State and citizens do not realize that by agreeing to issue EDL's the States are sending the message that the federal government has the authority to
mandate to States issues directly related to a State identification document, the State driver's license. Governors are selling out the Constitution in the name of convenience, cost and expediency. The federal government should step up and improve the timeliness of issuing passports and reduce the cost of passports instead of getting involved in a State's business. Keep in mind two international organizations played a significant part and still do in the standards for Real ID and EDL compliant driver's licenses. AAMVA (American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators), an international organization to spite it's name is the "backbone" and "hub" of the Real ID Act 2005. Those are the words DHS uses in the final rules issued this year that pertain to the Real ID Act. DHS has mandated that the digital facial image/photo for the Real ID Act meet the adopted standards of the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), an agency of the U.N. for facial recognition compatibility.
Our Coalition appreciates the need for a more secure State driver's license and to authenticate breeder documents such as birth certificates. What is not needed is federal intervention and a direct attack on the Bill of Rights. We support the men and women in our military, law enforcement and our intelligence agencies. We do not believe that a country must sacrifice liberty in order to achieve security. Real ID does not provide security. Perception is not reality when it comes to protecting our country.
AAMVA has been promoting a single jurisdiction of Mexico, Canada and the United State since 1994. It is no accident AAMVA started discussions on the DLA (Driver's License Agreement) the same year NAFTA was approved. It is the DLA that creates this North American Union for the sharing of each country's information regarding all licensed drivers. Please appreciate your tax payer money is supporting the DLA. Starting in 2006 the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been offering State's grant money to participate in AAMVA's DLA.
Many people are under the mistaken belief that Real ID will help fight illegal immigration. That is not the case at all. Factually, Real ID allows States to issue people in our country illegally, driver's licenses. By allowing this the federal government is supporting by default the illegal immigration of people rather than doing what the federal government should be doing which is enforcing current immigration laws.
We have an alternative to Real ID that can be implemented prior to 2017 which is the final date for all citizens to be Real ID compliant. Initial implementation starts 31 December 2009.
Our efforts continue as will these updates. It is you the people that allow us to do what we are doing. Without your financial support and other types of support we would not be able to continue. You each share in the success we achieve. When, not if Real ID is repealed, you will know you played a role in protecting and preserving our Constitution.
We challenge each person who comes to this web-site to forward the link to everyone they know and ask those people to do the same.
In tomorrow's update we will connect the dots so they form a straight line. The "connecting" will be so strong the dots will not even be apparent. Until then, God Bless America, the greatest country on Earth.
