A Growing Number of Sheriffs Aren't Happy With New Gun Control Laws — and They've Vowed to Do Something About It

A growing number of sheriffs and police chiefs from around the nation have vowed to oppose certain gun-control measures, according to a law enforcement organization.

The Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association lists 479 sheriffs and 18 state sheriffs associations who they claim are "saying 'no' to Obama gun control" and "have vowed to uphold and defend the Constitution against Obama's unconstitutional gun control measures."

[sharequote align="center"]"...vowed to uphold & defend the Constitution against Obama's unconstitutional gun control measures."[/sharequote]

The law enforcement organization said they compiled the list based "in general" on whether a sheriff had publicly stated "an affirmation to support the constitutional Second Amendment rights of citizens in his or her jurisdiction" or affirmed "that the sheriff will follow his or her oath and uphold the Constitution."

A growing list of law enforcement officers say they oppose new gun control measures. (Image source: Shutterstock)

On Sunday, The New York Times published a profile on Sheriff John Cooke of Weld County, Colo., who is reportedly refusing to enforce new gun control measures out of concern they violate Second Amendment rights.

The Times, for instance, reported that since many sheriffs in Colorado refuse to enforce the new laws, the state's newly adopted firearm regulations may be rendered "nearly irrelevant across much of the state's rural regions."

Sine July 1, 2013, the possession of a "large capacity magazine" is illegal and universal background checks are required on all private sales, according to the National Rifle Association.

But the battle is playing out across the country.

A delegation of sheriffs met with California Gov. Jerry Brown recently to "try to persuade him to veto gun bills passed by the Legislature," The Times reported.

“Our way of life means nothing to these politicians, and our interests are not being promoted in the legislative halls of Sacramento or Washington, D.C.,” Jon E. Lopey, the sheriff of Siskiyou County, Calif., told The Times. "He said enforcing gun laws was not a priority for him, and he added that residents of his rural region near the Oregon border are equally frustrated by regulations imposed by the federal Forest Service and the Environmental Protection Agency."

[sharequote align="center"]“Our way of life means nothing to these politicians..."[/sharequote]

In Liberty County, Fla., a jury in October acquitted a sheriff after he released a man arrested on charges of carrying a concealed firearm. According to The Times, the sheriff was immediately reinstated by the governor.

Nevertheless, proponents of gun control measures say the laws do work.

“Particularly on background checks, the numbers show the law is working," Eric Brown, a spokesman for Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, told The Times, noting since the law has gone into effect 70 people have been denied firearm sales.

Further, those advocating tighter gun laws have vowed to continue pushing forward and are planning to spend millions in the 2014 elections, according to Fox News.

(H/T: The New York Times)

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