In the past 24 hours, sheriffs in Arizona, California and Colorado have publicly and explicitly stated that they will not enforce proposed federal gun control laws sought by President Obama. Speaking directly to the President's Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 proposals, these sheriffs have made their support of Second Amendment rights unequivocally clear:
- El Dorado County, California Sheriff John D’Agostini, according to local news station KRNV on Jan. 19, 2013 ("The purpose of this letter is to go on record of re-affirming my oath of office and making it clear that I and my staff will never violate [our oath of office] by being pressured into enforcing any unconstitutional provision, law or executive order.");
- Fresno County, California Sheriff Margaret Mims, according to local news station KFSN on Jan. 18, 2013 ("So I have sent a letter to the White House saying I will not enforce any unconstitutional gun control laws.");
- Yavapai, Arizona Sheriff Scott Mascher, according to a Jan. 18, 2013 internal Sheriff memorandum published by media outlet Reason ("As Sheriff, I refuse to participate or cooperate with any unconstitutional order that will infringe upon our 2nd amendment rights."); and
- Larimer County, Colorado Sheriff Justin Smith, according local television station KWGN, also on Jan. 18, 2013 ("As Sheriff, I will not: Enforce unconstitutional federal laws; Obey unconstitutional laws; Allow others to violate the Constitutional Rights of those in my county.")
This brings the total, verified number of sheriffs who have specifically pledged not enforce President Obama's proposed federal gun laws to 39. To a person, they consider President Obama's current gun control proposals unconstitutional and an illegal infringement of Second Amendment rights. We provide that list to you below. The sheriffs on the list have made their comments after the President officially announced his proposals on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013. This list does not include sheriffs who have voiced general opposition to gun control or who have made their statements before the President's official Jan. 16, 2013 proposals.
Note: We are constantly searching for and updating our list with verifiable "non-enforcement" sheriffs. If you know of other sheriffs in and around your community who should be included here, please add a comment below with an appropriate link for inclusion and credit on the list.
The complete, verified list as of Saturday evening, Jan. 19, 2013, is as follows:
Oregon sheriffs (9) (as reported by Fox News, online newspaper OregonLive, local radio station KCMB, local television station KMTR and gun rights organization Oregon Firearms);
- Linn County Sheriff Tim Mueller
- Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin
- Baker County Sheriff Mitchell Southwick
- Josephine County Sheriff Gil Gilbertson
- Crook County Sheriff Jim Hensley
- Coos County Sheriff Craig Zanni
- Curry County Sheriff John Bishop
- Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer
- Washington County Sheriff Pat Garrett
Colorado sheriffs (4) (as reported by local television station KWGN, the El Paso County Sheriff's Official website, the Mesa County Sheriff's Official Facebook page and the Denver Post);
- El Paso County Colorado Sheriff Terry Maketa
- Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith
- Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey
- Weld County Sheriff John Cooke
Alabama sheriffs (3) (as reported by local news station WHNT, gun rights organization Oath Keepers and media outlet Dothanfirst);
- Madison County Sheriff Blake Dorning
- Morgan County Sheriff Ana Franklin
- Houston County Sheriff Andy Hughes
Califonia sheriffs (3) (according to The Modesto Bee, and local news stations KRNVand KFSN);
- El Dorado County Sheriff John D’Agostini
- Fresno County Sheriff Margaret Mims
- Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson
Missouri sheriffs (3) (as reported on BeforeItsNews and news station KOAM and KCTV);
- Johnson County Sheriff Charles Heiss
- Lawrence County Sheriff Brad DeLay
- Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox
Arizona sheriffs (2) (according to news outlets TPM and Reason);
- Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio
- Yavapai County Sheriff Scott Mascher
Florida sheriffs (2) (according to local news station WPTV and Sheriff McKiethen's personal Facebook page);
- Martin County Sheriff Bill Snyder
- Bay County Florida Sheriff Frank McKiethen
Georgia sheriffs (2) (as reported by the Cherokee Tribune and MinnPost Christian Science Monitor);
- Cherokee County Sheriff Roger Garrison
- Gilmer County Sheriff Stacy Nicholson
Idaho sheriffs (2) (according to news station KIFI and newspaper Idaho Statesman);
- Canyon County, Idaho Sheriff Kieran Donahue
- Madison County Sheriff Roy Klingler
Ohio sheriffs (2) (according to radio station KyPost);
- Boone County Sheriff Michael A. Helmig
- Clermont County Sheriff A.J. Rodenberg
South Carolina sheriffs (2) (according to The Post and Courier and news station WYFF);
- Charleston County Sheriff Al Cannon
- Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright
Johnson County, Kansas Sheriff Frank Denning, according to the Kansas City Star;
Jackson County, Kentucky Sheriff Denny Peyman, as reported by NBC News;
Pine County, Minnesota Sheriff Robin Cole, according to NewsMax;
Humboldt County, Nevada Sheriff Ed Kilgore, as reported by local news station KRNV; and
Smith County, Texas Sheriff Larry Smith, as reported by local news station KLTV.
UPDATE: On Jan. 19, 2013, Roosevelt county sheriff Darren Hooker of New Mexico declared that he will not enforce President Obama's proposed gun control laws or assault weapons ban, according to the Portales News-Tribune.
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