North Texas Sheriffs won't enforce unconstitutional gun laws.

Collin County Sheriff Terry G. Box lit a firestorm of controversy when he publically announced that he would not enforce unconstitutional gun laws in his jurisdiction.

He is certainly not alone.

As of January 31 the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association reported that there were "229 Sheriffs Saying 'NO' to Obama Gun Control" along with two state sheriff's associations.

The Lone Star State boasts 11 of these rights-advocating sheriffs with three serving the North Texas Metroplex counties of Collin, Ellis and Johnson and another one in nearby Hill County.

(The numbers keep growing. Between that date and posting this article the numbers have risen to 256 county sheriffs that now include 15 Texas counties along with six state sheriff's associations nationwide.)

Sheriff Box posted this statement on his Facebook page on January 22:

Collin County Sheriff Won't Enforce Gun Laws That He Says Violate Constitution NBC 5 Dallas-Ft Worth.Collin County Sheriff Won't Enforce Gun Laws That He Says Violate Constitution NBC 5 Dallas-Ft Worth.

"Neither I nor any of my deputies will participate in the enforcement of laws that violate our precious Constitutional rights, including our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms."

While defended by those who understand the US Constitution and the citizen's relationship to it others have reviled Box in the online "Comments" sections of the area's news media.

A small sampling includes calling Box "an ignorant fool" (Dallas Morning News); "Another paranoid right wing whacko sheriff" and "a damn old stupid fool" (WFAA.com); and "Just another pompous drama queen nutcase" (nbcdfw.com).

But a majority of North Texans, and Texans overall, would appear to agree with Box if the state's lawmakers are any indication.

Down in Austin the 2013 Legislative Session is in progress and several handgun-related issues will be up for discussion, including open carry, teacher carry, student carry and nullification of unconstitutional gun laws addressed by Box's statement.

Among the House and Senate bills already filed are:

HB 553 is the "Second Amendment Preservation Act" (nullification bill),

HB 700 would allow Concealed Handgun License (CHL) holders to carry openly,

HB 706 and SB 182 would allow CHL holders to carry on the premises of institutions of higher education by students, staff, and faculty (See Empty Holster Protest),

And still to come is Dallas Rep Jason Villalba's "Protection of Texas Children Act" that would put armed "school marshals" in Texas public schools, effectively ending schools as "gun free zones."

Since the Libertarian Party has always supported equal rights for gun owners there's little doubt that the Texas LP will be championing these bills in Austin.

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