Sheriffs Call Maryland's Proposed Gun Laws 'Suicide Mission'

There are members of law enforcement, in other parts of the country, who will not enforce gun laws either. Why the push back? It's because these sheriffs and others around the country, believe that these senseless gun laws are unconstitutional and don't affect criminals. The real question is, if law enforcement officers around the country realize these gun laws are "unjust and unconstitutional", why don't the politicians who push them?

In Maryland:

"Law-abiding citizens are repeatedly being penalized because of Baltimore City's inability to control their crime," he said. "And I'm sorry — I'm not someone's puppet. I'm going to stand up for what I think is unjust and unconstitutional to the American people, including those living in the state in Maryland."

"There are bills that would truly make it a suicide mission for a sheriff deputy or a Maryland state trooper," the sheriff said. "There are just so many reasons why this is unjust and unconstitutional."

In New York:

NY sheriffs: We won't enforce gun laws, magazine limits. The law bans sales of some popular semi-automatic rifles and gives owners a year to register those they already owned.

The New York State Sheriffs Association and five individual sheriffs have joined a court effort to block enforcement of new bullet limits for magazines and firearms restrictions. Schoharie County Sheriff Tony Desmond said he has no intention of enforcing the law, and that his office won't do anything that would cause law-abiding citizens to turn in their weapons or arrest them for possessing firearms.

www.policeone.com...

In Washington State:

At least 20 county sheriffs in Washington state – more than half of the state’s total – are now publicly refusing to police new gun laws. Several county governments have also passed local resolutions officially opposing enforcement of the laws.

www.theguardian.com...

In at least 13 mostly rural counties across Washington, from the Pacific Coast to the eastern wheat fields, county sheriffs have publicly pledged not to enforce the new law, known as Initiative 1639, citing their personal opposition to it.

“My job as a sheriff is to throw bad guys in jail, but it’s also to protect the constitutional rights of citizens of our county,” said Klickitat County Sheriff Bob Songer, who said he will not be enforcing the new law. “I follow the rule of law when I believe it’s constitutional.”

www.seattletimes.com...

why don't the politicians who push them?

Because these people take no responsibility for the consequences of their policies and they don't have to. They have no problem creating a civil war for their stupid anti-gun agenda. The worst part is the people who encourage them to do this crap don't think it could ever happen.

a reply to: projectvxn

well said!

I live in Washington State and I am quite glad many Sheriffs are refusing to break the law (constitution which over rides illegal state laws), and not enforce the recently passed unconstitutional initiative. Lawsuits against are pending as well.

The governor Jay Inslee is a pompous ass who simply will have no truck with the US Constitution because it contradicts most everything he is usually promoting. The only way he can be stopped in his runaway train wreck is for a catastrophic derailing, heart attack, or some other divine intervention.

For a piece of garbage like him, the oath he repeated when being sworn in was just an inconsequential formality, and not anything to be taken seriously, or to honor. This seems to be the case with a majority of our current politicians.

About damn time people stood up to this snip.

Shame those snip hats in Washington won't get the message.

I'd love to see these same Sherriff's attitudes once they are told comply or else no more federal funding.

Anti gun laws are just a knee jerk reaction to people shooting each other over stupid stuff. If people would/could control themselves (their emotions) a bit better, politicians might not be reacting this way.

I guess these lawmakers are unaware that there are millions of guns on the black market that people can easily find if they are determined enough.

Gun legislation is going to solve nothing. NO. THING. Responsible and law-abiding gun owners are not the issue so I don't know why they think more laws will solve anything?

existing thread
www.abovetopsecret.com...

originally posted by: CosmicAwakening
I'd love to see these same Sherriff's attitudes once they are told comply or else no more federal funding.

Funding from who exactly?

originally posted by: CosmicAwakening
I'd love to see these same Sherriff's attitudes once they are told comply or else no more federal funding.

I think you meant local funding, but either way here's what happened in Washington State:

From: mynorthwest.com

In the event a police chief or sheriff refuses to perform the background check required by Initiative 1639, they could be held liable if there is a sale or transfer of a firearm to a dangerous individual prohibited from possessing a firearm and that individual uses that firearm to do harm. In short, the taxpayers of your city or county assume the financial risk of your decision to impose your personal views over the law.

But from the same article A former AG for the state put's it this way:

Despite the forceful language, it remains hard for the state to make sheriffs enforce a law that their respective voting populations support.
“There’s no practical way you can force a local police department to enforce the law,” former Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna told MyNorthwest back in November.

Excerpt from the acual AG letter (as seen here: assets.documentcloud.org )

Numerous sheriffs and police chiefs have stated that they will not implement or enforce the initiative. I want to share my thoughts on this important issue, which affects both the safety of our communities and respect for the rule of law.

Like all laws passed by the people of Washington and their representatives, Initiative 1639 is presumed constitutional. No court has ruled that this initiative is unconstitutional.

I will defend Initiative 1639 against any legal challenge. My office defeated the legal challenge to the previous gun safety initiative passed by the people, and I am confident we will defeat any constitutional challenge to Initiative 1639 as well. Local law enforcement officials are entitled to their opinions about the constitutionality of any law, but those personal views do not absolve us of our duty to enforce Washington laws and protect the public.

The major issue is that most of the districts in Washington State didn't vote for this initiative, only the a couple of counties did. A majority of people inside the state and outside of basically King County didn't want or even ask for this to be in place. it doesn't matter to the State AG though he's clearly on board the Socialist train and really takes lead in every stupid endeavor that Inslee wants. These Sheriffs that were elected to protect the people of their districts are doing the right thing by refusing a law that should have been tossed out due to irregularities during the signature gathering stages, and misrepresentations during the lection cycle.
As seen in this picture:

(picture was taken by me while driving around Kitsap Country WA)
So explain to me how this was even allowed if everything was legal?

originally posted by: snowspirit
Anti gun laws are just a knee jerk reaction to people shooting each other over stupid stuff. If people would/could control themselves (their emotions) a bit better, politicians might not be reacting this way.

Yeah, but how could you have a gun problem without pushing gang lifestyle through the media, crack on the inner city streets and boatloads of guns that automagicly appear?

It's right there in the communist manifesto

Notice the effect of focusing on all the city centers, then trying to spread into the rest of the country.

a reply to: shawmanfromny

Confiscate legal guns from law abiding citizens??? They need to suggest their governor show 'em how it's done...

No one rules if no one obeys.. My feelings are the more the gun grabbers push the more they will be ignored...at least I hope so...and IMO I have always been a law abiding citizen..

Err for some reason I was thinking it was a federal law nevermind.

originally posted by: 727Sky
No one rules if no one obeys.. My feelings are the more the gun grabbers push the more they will be ignored...at least I hope so...and IMO I have always been a law abiding citizen..

This must be why the state is causing so much division, it winds the crazies up into acting out so they can they pass laws to take guns from law abiding citizens like yourself, the sooner people wake up to the ruse that is partisan politics the better.

If gun laws pass in one state or county, they will little by little be passed in another state or county. There are already area's right now today in the USA where the 2nd amendment is not recognized.

The federal government violated the Tenth Amendment when Congress required state and local officials to perform background checks on people buying guns.

Printz v United States.

www.ammoland.com...