Here is my letter to Terry Wagner.
Hello Sheriff.
I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for the work you and your department do. I also wanted to learn what your stance would be on the gun control laws being debated in Washington D.C.
I am in support of the constitution and against any infringement upon it. If the constitution needs to be changed, then they should do so and I will gladly comply. However, being the supreme law enforcement officer of the county, as all county Sheriffs are, I am subjected to your enforcements of laws, be they constitutional or not. So the question that we are led to, is this: Will you enforce anti-constitutional edicts, mandates, or even laws that are passed from the federal level?
The tragedies that have occurred are clearly being capitalized on by those with an anti-constitutional agenda. I don’t blame most people who agree with gun control as many of them simply do not know their history or choose not to form their own opinions. Instead, it seems to me, that they believe what they are told to believe. They are my neighbors and my relatives. They want to believe the government has their best interest at heart, and at the local level, they are probably correct.
They want the killing to stop and think that by taking the guns away from everyone is the way to do it. The facts just do not support this. Look at New York, or closer to home, Chicago. They have the strictest gun control laws but the highest gun crime rates because law abiding citizens have been deprived of their right to self defense. Now it seems they want to pass the same laws onto the rest of the country. I don’t want that and I do not think they would either if those laws were implemented nationally. Again, looking at New York, Chicago, and Detroit as portents of how well these gun-control laws work and their unintended consequences.
I am a lawful gun owner. I am a concealed carry permit holder. I am a veteran with combat experience. I have taken advance classes in conceal carry classes, legal ramifications classes and armorer classes. I participate weekly in shooting sports and work alongside LPD as well in a security role. As my neighbor, I would hope that you can appreciate those of us who are responsible, well trained, law abiding, tax-paying, voting citizens and support our right to self defense from those that would do us harm. I would also hope, even implore, that you would consider joining the ranks of Sheriffs from across our nation who have committed themselves to defending the constitution by defying any gun control mandates. You have a unique power to show those at the federal level that the real power in our system of government is at the local level. Please exercise that power in favor of your constituency.
Thank you for all you and your team do, and thank you for keeping us safe. I really hope to hear back from you on these issues.
.
