This Should Be Happening In More Places (Like San Francisco)

The mayor of New Paltz, NY has been criminally charged for marrying homosexual couples in his town.

He only faces $500 in fines and potentially a year in jail (which I would seriously doubt will happen), but it still sends a pretty strong message - and one that needs to be sent: the laws must be obeyed, even when they are disagreeable.

The mayor of a town, a burg, a village, or a metropolis has no right to decide to violate a law with impunity. He is as bound to them as the rest of us. No person is above the law.

I really hope that they do throw Mayor West in jail. It would set a powerful and chilling precedent for other potential righteous mayors.

Some people will have a problem with that statement saying that it would also cast a chilling effect on the national debate surrounding gay marriage. I disagree.

Just as we must seperate the illegal marriage cerimonies from the debate, we must also seperate the consequences of the illegalities. The issue is distinct from the acts that are occuring.

Where this really needs to happen, though, is San Francisco. Gavin Newsom needs to be charged like this. He, like the mayor of New Paltz, has openly and deliberately violated the law. A criminal act is a criminal act. Period.