As the sheriff of Carroll County, I don’t often get involved in state or national politics. However, when something surfaces politically that impacts the people of Carroll County and the surrounding area, I’m not going to sit quietly with my mouth shut.

Recently, U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling decided to contact elected officials and the media urging people to contact U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin to not allow Gitmo prisoners to be relocated to the Thomson prison.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out why the representative would reinsert this issue into the as-of-yet-to-open prison. That issue was laid to rest more than a year ago when the Department of Justice took the option of Gitmo prisoners off the table – in writing – and Congress passed a law to that effect. Sens. Durbin and Mark Kirk worked in a bipartisan manner to advance the sale and ultimate opening of the prison.