“The hottest topic at the Oroville City Council meeting Tuesday was whether or not to make Oroville a constitutional republic city. At least 10 members of the community addressed the council during public comment in support of the resolution, making impassioned pleas to pass the agenda item. Most were unhappy with governmental policies such as the COVID-19 mask mandate and believed that people as citizens have rights under the U.S. Constitution to make their own decisions about our health. Mayor Chuck Reynolds said that a republic is what the city is under.”

“People and representatives make decisions for the community. ‘We are living under a constitutional republic,’ he said. Reynolds also said that attention should be paid to the language. When a state is declared an emergency, it puts one person in charge and we should pay attention to who that person is. ‘Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts,’ Reynolds said. ‘A constitutional republic makes America a successful nation. Rights are by the people, for the people.’ Councilor Scott Thomson said that staff and students at schools should choose whether or not to get vaccinated. ‘Every entity should stand up. Silence is compliance,’ Thomson said. After much discussion and comments, the motion passed 6-1 with Krysi Riggs the lone nay vote. When the motion passed, the room was filled with applause and cheers” the Chico Enterprise-Record reports.

It is unknown what if any next steps Oroville will take toward establishing an independent constitutional republic within city limits. Founding a sovereign nation is a massive logistical undertaking requiring a lot of commitment, even when the ruling power willingly grants and recognizes independence, which the United States of America almost certainly won’t, much less the state of California. Mayor Reynolds should establish diplomatic relations with the heads of state of internationally unrecognized breakaway republics in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus such as Transdnieper and South Ossetia to get some feedback if he’s really serious about this. They can probably work out a deal to supply Oroville with AK-47s and anti-tank weapons for Oroville’s national defense, but he should be cautious about offering them OroBucks as payment.