March 24, 2020
Washington, DC
Conservatives are troubled by reports that the Department of Justice is seeking additional authorities during the coronavirus pandemic, including the right to detain individuals without trial.
The public health crisis facing the country is unprecedented, and a whole of government approach is underway. However, using this crisis as a justification to violate the basic civil liberties of Americans is unconscionable, and in no way justified.
This is also true at the state level, where unprecedented shelter-in-place orders threaten civil liberties as well. We urge governors to make any movement limitations temporary and tailored. A federal shelter-in-place order should be avoided at all costs. Public health must be protected, but so, too, should the rights of Americans under the Constitution.
Americans have mobilized with extraordinary speed and cooperation. The Trump administration has lifted regulations and expedited actions to begin vaccine testing, facilitate production of necessary medical equipment, and restricted foreign access to the country as appropriate.
These actions are justified. A dramatic expansion of the police state is not, and we emphatically oppose it.
| Alfred S. Regnery Chairman, Conservative Action Project Chairman, Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund |
Kelly J. Shackelford, Esq. Chairman, CNP Action, Inc. President and CEO, First Liberty Institute |
| The Honorable David McIntosh President Club for Growth |
Tom McClusky President March for Life Action |
| Jenny Beth Martin Chairman Tea Party Patriots Citizen Fund |
Adam Brandon President FreedomWorks |
| The Honorable Becky Norton Dunlop White House Advisor President Ronald Reagan (1981-1985) |
Cleta Mitchell, Esq. Partner Foley & Lardner LLP |
| Noah Wall Vice President of Advocacy FreedomWorks |
L. Brent Bozell, III Founder and President Media Research Center |
| Mary Vought Executive Director Senate Conservatives Fund |
The Honorable Tony Perkins President Family Research Council |
| Lisa B. Nelson Chief Executive Officer American Legislative Exchange Council |
The Honorable Jim DeMint Chairman, Conservative Partnership Institute Member, US Senate (SC 2005-2013) |
| Ed Corrigan Vice Chairman, Conservative Action Project Executive Director, Conservative Partnership Institute |
Rachel Bovard Senior Director of Policy Conservative Partnership Institute (CPI) |
| The Honorable J. Kenneth Blackwell Chairman Constitutional Congress, Inc. |
The Honorable Donald Paul Hodel U.S. Secretary of Energy (1982-1985) U.S. Secretary of Interior (1985-1989) |
| Myron Ebell Director, Center for Energy and Environment Competitive Enterprise Institute |
Scott T. Parkinson VP for Government Affairs Club for Growth |
| David Bozell President ForAmerica |
The Honorable Bob McEwen U.S. House of Representatives Former Member, Ohio |
| William L. Walton President Council for National Policy |
Penny Y. Nance President & CEO Concerned Women for America |
| Lt. Gen. William G. Boykin (Ret.) Executive Vice President Family Research Council |
Michael Farris President, CEO & General Counsel Alliance Defending Freedom |
| The Honorable Gary L. Bauer President American Values |
David N. Bossie President Citizens United |
| The Honorable Penny Pullen Former Commissioner Pres. Reagan’s Commission on the HIV Epidemic |
Craig Shirley Reagan Biographer Presidential Historian |
| Jim Backlin Vice President of Legislative Affairs Christian Coalition of America |
Rod D. Martin Founder & CEO The Martin Organization, Inc. |
| Sherri R. Martin Executive Vice President The Martin Organization, Inc. |
Haley E. Martin President The Martin Foundation |
| Christina Murphy Lusk Campaign for the American Future |
Guillermo J. Aragon Chief Financial Officer Martin Imaging, Inc. |
| Benjamin Nieuwsma Founder and CEO Navigo |
Shawn A. Mitchell Former National Chaplain National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA) |
| Eunie Smith President Eagle Forum |
Susan Carleson Chairman/CEO Carleson Center for Welfare Reform |
| Richard Norman Founder and President The Richard Norman Company |
Amy Kremer Chairman Women for America First |
| Kay R. Daly President Coalition for a Fair Judiciary |
Jake Hoffman President & CEO Rally Forge |
| Trent England Executive Director Save Our States |
C. Preston Noell III President Tradition, Family, Property, Inc. |
| Paul Gessing President Rio Grande Foundation |
Kielle Horton President The Lindsey Foundation |
| Judson Phillips Founder Tea Party Nation |
Mario Navarro da Costa Director, Washington Bureau Tradition, Family, Property |
| Anne Schlafly Cori Chairman Eagle Forum |
Khadine Ritter President Eagle Forum of Ohio |
| Sal Russo Co-Founder and Chief Strategist Tea Party Express |
Charlie Copeland President Intercollegiate Studies Institute |
| Kevin Freeman Founder NSIC Institute |
Matthew Tyrmand Principal Matthew Tyrmand LLC |
| Bob Carlstrom President AMAC Action |
Elise Neff Executive Assistant to President Students for Life of America |
| Rob Chambers Vice President AFA Action |
Eric Georgatos Executive Producer America Can We Talk? |
| The Honorable George K. Rasley Jr. Managing Editor ConservativeHQ.com |
Dean Nelson Chairman Frederick Douglass Foundation |
| J. Christian Adams President Public Interest Legal Foundation |
Elaine Donnelly President Center for Military Readiness |
| Saulius “Saul” Anuzis President 60 Plus Association |
Bill Shaker CEO Washington Marketing Group |
| Karen England Executive Director Nevada Family Alliance & Capitol Resource Institute |
Dr. Paige Patterson President Sandy Creek Foundation |
| Jim Martin Founder/Chairman 60 Plus Association |
Floyd Brown Publisher Western Journal |
| Seton Motley President Less Government |
Ambassador Henry F. Cooper Ronald Reagan’s Chief Defense and Space Negotiator Former SDI Director |
| Martha Boneta President Vote America First |
Joseph A. Morris Attorney and Partner, Morris & De La Rosa Assistant U.S. Attorney General, Reagan Administration |
| Lisa Calvert Christian and Faith Speaker Rabon & Calvert Int |
George Landrith President Frontiers of Freedom |
| Robert K. Fischer Meeting Coordinator Conservatives of Faith |
E.C. Sykes General Partner Aslan Ventures |
| Eli Lehrer President The R Street Institute |
Twila Brase, RN, PHN President and Co-founder Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom |
| Cindy Honcoop State Director Washington Eagle Forum |
Amapola Hansberger President Legal Immigrants for America |
| Paavo Ensio Chairman Universal Minerals Group |
Dr. Carolyn McLarty Secretary Eagle Forum |
| Willes K. Lee President National Federation of Republican Assemblies |
Barry Meguiar President Ignite America |
| Joan Holt Lindsey President Lindsey Communications |
Dr. Richard Rounsavelle Trustee Media Research Center |
| Allen Hebert Chairman American-Chinese Fellowship of Houston |
Melvin Adams President Noah Webster Educational Foundation |
| The Honorable Mike Hill Representative Florida State House |
Lewis K. Uhler Founder and President National Tax Limitation Committee |
| Mario H. Lopez President Hispanic Leadership Fund |
Lori Roman President American Constitutional Rights Union Action |
| E. Calvin Beisner, Ph.D. President Cornwall Alliance for the Stewardship of Creation |
Ralph Benko, Esq. Political Columnist |
| Norm Singleton President Campaign for Liberty |
Jay Mount President MDS Communications |
All organizations listed for IDENTIFICATION purposes only.
