After President Barack Obama announced his gun control plan on Jan. 16, 2013, lawmakers and sheriffs across the country made it known that they do not plan to enforce any new gun laws that might be imposed by Congress or by executive order.
In Minnesota, Pine County Sheriff Robin Cole wrote a letter to his constituents stating that he will "refuse" to carry out any federal law that infringes on his personal interpretation of the Second Amendment.
Oregon Sheriffs Tim Meuller (Linn County) and Jim Hensley (Crook County) both sent letters to Vice President Joe Biden stating that they will not enforce any federal law that goes against the second amendment.
Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller posted this letter addressed to Vice President Biden on the sheriff department's Facebook page and gained more than 50,000 likes just minutes after it was posted.
I refuse to participate, or stand idly by, while my citizens are turned into criminals due to the unconstitutional actions of misguided politicians." - Tim Mueller, Linn County Sheriff
Last weekend, Jackson County sheriff Denny Peyman stated that he would not enforce firearms restrictions, saying, "Kentucky is a sovereign state. The federal government is coming in and saying, 'This is what you're going to do.' We're not going to do it."
However, on Jan. 16 he changed his mind, telling CNN, "If it goes through Congress, if it becomes law, if it goes that way, yeah, I'd enforce the law."
There are measures pending in the Missouri, Texas, South Carolina and North Dakota state legislatures that are aimed at ignoring federal gun policies. Some were written before lawmakers even heard President Obama's proposed gun policy.
Missouri State Representative Casey Guernsey entered the Missouri 2nd Amendment Preservation Act, House Bill 170 (HB170) that would "nullify any and all federal acts, orders, laws, statutes, rules, or regulations of the federal government on personal firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition."
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (R) proposed state legislation that would make any "unconstitutional order" on gun policy taken by President Obama "illegal to enforce in Mississippi by state and local law enforcement."
In South Carolina, joint resolution S 0224 was entered that intends to "nullify in South Carolina any Presidential Executive order restricting, abridging, or otherwise infringing upon a citizens second amendment right to keep and bear arms.
Lawmakers in North Carolina proposed the Measure Actions for HB 1183 bill on Jan. 11, 2013. The bill states that it will forbid "state governmental entities from providing aid and assistance to the federal government or any other governmental entity for the investigation, enforcement, and prosecution of federal firearms laws not in force as of January 1, 2013."
In Texas, the Second Amendment Preservation Act was introduced as House Bill 553 (HB553). It states that it would nullify potentially anything from the federal government that contravenes in the State of Texas.
Despite the fact that there are some officials who continue to protest against the proposed firearms restrictions, it seems that a good number of Americans do want gun laws to change, especially in light of the tragic Newtown shootings in December.
CNN reports, "by a 51%-45% margin, Americans questioned in a new Pew Research Center poll said it was more important to control gun ownership than to protect gun rights."
Additionally, a new Washington Post survey indicates that by a 52%-35% margin, the public is more likely to support "some forms of gun control after last month's massacre" in Connecticut.
It is important to note that the polls show that there is a notable divide along political lines. Of those who answered the poll, 33 percent were Democrats; 24 percent were Republicans; 37 percent were Independents; and 6 percent selected "other."
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