Utah sheriffs warn Obama of deadly war over guns

[JJVP]

In the most strident warning over gun control to President Obama yet, the Utah Sheriffs' Association is pledging to go to war over any administration plan to take guns away, even if it means losing their lives.

http://washingtonexaminer.com/utah-sher ... P37tXy9KSP" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[baldeagle]

That oughta cinch up some shorts.

[jmra]

Maybe, just maybe the sleeping giant is waking up.

[baldeagle]

Since the Supreme Court decision in Mack and Prinz v. United States there has been an awakening at the Sheriffs' level that has been solidifying over the years which congealed in the Oathkeepers. That group has a list of ten orders they will refuse to obey. Number 1 is "We will NOT obey any order to disarm the American people." Number 2 is "We will NOT obey any order to conduct warrantless searches of the American people, their homes, vehicles, papers, or effects – such as warrantless house-to house searches for weapons or persons."

[RoyGBiv]

Reading that brought a lump to my throat.

FYI.. Here's the full letter posted to the UT Sheriffs web site:
PDF Version: http://www.utahsheriffs.org/USA-Home_fi ... Letter.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Text Version at Washing County Sheriffs web site: https://news.washeriff.net/open-letter- ... ack-obama/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Full Text (Public Domain)

UTAH SHERIFFS’ ASSOCIATION

P.O. Box 787
East Carbon City, Utah 84520
(435) 888-2004
Fax: (435) 888-0842

7 January 2013

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

We, the elected sheriffs of Utah, like so many of our fellow Americans, are literally
heartbroken for the loved ones of the murdered victims in Connecticut. As Utahans, we are
not strangers to this kind of carnage—-one of the latest being the 2007 Trolley Square murders
wherein nine innocents were gunned down-five losing their lives.

We also recognize the scores of other recent domestic massacres, which have decimated
countless honorable lives. As Americans, we value the sanctity of life. Furthermore, similar to
our inspired Founders, we acknowledge our subservience to a higher power.

With the number of mass shootings America has endured, it is easy to demonize firearms; it is
also foolish and prejudiced. Firearms are nothing more than instruments, valuable and
potentially dangerous, but instruments nonetheless. Malevolent souls, like the criminals who
commit mass murders, will always exploit valuable instruments in the pursuit of evil. As
professional peace officers, if we understand nothing else, we understand this: lawful violence
must sometimes be employed to deter and stop criminal violence. Consequently, the citizenry
must continue its ability to keep and bear arms, including arms that adequately protect them
from all types of illegality.

As your administration and Congress continue to grapple with the complex issue of firearm
regulations, we pray that the Almighty will guide the People’s Representatives collectively.
For that reason, it is imperative this discussion be had in Congress, not silenced unilaterally
by executive orders. As you deliberate, please remember the Founders of this great nation
created the Constitution, and its accompanying Bill of Rights, in an effort to protect citizens
from all forms of tyrannical subjugation.

We respect the Office of the President of the United States of America. But, make no mistake,
as the duly-elected sheriffs of our respective counties, we will enforce the rights guaranteed to
our citizens by the Constitution. No federal official will be permitted to descend upon our
constituents and take from them what the Bill of Rights-in particular Amendment II-has
given them. We, like you, swore a solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the
United States, and we are prepared to trade our lives for the preservation of its traditional
interpretation.

The Utah Sheriffs’ Association

[erick619]

this is awesome!

[gigag04]

Agreed w/ all the above.

[Excaliber]

An LEO's oath of office is a solemn promise to defend the constitution.

The Utah sheriffs are simply reminding Obama of the fact that most LEO's take that responsibility real seriously.

He and the folks in congress would do well to poke their heads outside the beltway and take heed.

[longtooth]

I was neve allowed a uniform even though I volunteered. Army Airborn said no due to health.
Regular draft notice came & I tried again. 4F.

There are still a LOT of American Patriots that have give Service where we can & all we need is a Washington to lead us.

Gov Perry you need to quit tiptoeing after others & Get busy LEADING.

[RPBrown]

I can only hope that the same is done by our LEO in Texas. I know that the chief and the sheriff of Dallas are pro BHO and his stance. We need to work hard to get her voted and get rid of the politicians on the counsil that are against our 2A rights (which I think is all of them)

[OldCannon]

The Utah sheriffs are simply reminding Obama of the fact that most LEO's take that responsibility real seriously.

He and the folks in congress would do well to poke their heads outside the beltway and take heed.

There's some other noteworthy thoughts to keep in mind:

Most ATF agents are equally uninterested in seeing a rollback of the AWB and the accompanying enforcement issues. They live and work in neighborhoods across the US, and most are as passionate about shooting as we are. Neither are most ATF folks interested in scoring the "political points" to move themselves up the chain from this. Career ATF agents know that politics change, and so does the accompanying "tides of promotion." Like most folks in federal offices that are often tools of politicians, people are careful about what they do and say. Based upon what I've read (or been directly told), most AFT agents at the SHOT show were privately shaking their heads at the gun control frenzy.

Here's some fun numbers:
ATF Agents: approx 3,000
FBI Agents: 15,000
Dept Homeland Security Agents: generous estimate 20,000
(these aren't totals of each organization, just rough totals of those that are armed and trained to "engage bad guys")

That's a total of 40,000 (rounded up) armed people that would be _potentially_ willing to chuck the constitution so they can keep collecting a paycheck. Let's say 20 states _voluntarily_ roll over and suck up to any federal mandate (you know, CA, NY, NJ, HI, etc. - and "20" is a generous number as well). That means a whopping 1333 armed agents per "uppity state" must strut around and enforce a new AWB.

If you wonder why Obama isn't REALLY pushing the AWB, it's because you can bet your bottom line that he's been given this kind of "worst case scenario" briefing.

No, I don't factor the military in, because almost every commander down the line would refuse under the Posse Comitatus Act, and for (obviously) good reason.

People panic because the federal government LOOKS big and acts tough, but in the "worst case scenario," this can quickly boil down to several million ants vs a few thousand grasshoppers.

Seriously: I am NOT worried.

[anygunanywhere]

You need to throw in the IRS and a few other agencies too. They all have their own armed wing.

Still it isn't a large number.

Anygunanywhere

[fickman]

Great letter. Does anybody know if Dee Anderson has said anything since all of the madness started?

Regarding a confiscation, I don't think they'd ever come door to door. They'd have a deadline date to turn then in... maybe you'll get a FEMA gift card or something for complying. After that, there will be a stiff penalty (fine + jail) for being caught with a banned firearm. If they get registration first, they'll know who didn't participate in the turn in. Your neighbor or family might get a FEMA gift card for turning you in.

These sheriffs, along with the NRA, the House, and hopefully the SCOTUS, are an important piece of our bulwark.

[RHenriksen]

Regarding a confiscation, I don't think they'd ever come door to door. They'd have a deadline date to turn then in... maybe you'll get a FEMA gift card or something for complying. After that, there will be a stiff penalty (fine + jail) for being caught with a banned firearm. If they get registration first, they'll know who didn't participate in the turn in. Your neighbor or family might get a FEMA gift card for turning you in.

These sheriffs, along with the NRA, the House, and hopefully the SCOTUS, are an important piece of our bulwark.

Exactly. Everyone needs to keep in mind that it's a whole lot easier for the Feds to squeeze people out of their guns by making your life miserable in other ways than a Waco-style invasion. Tax penalties, civil actions, IRS audits, etc etc etc. Nothing that leads to dramatic shootouts; just squeeze-squeeze-squeeze like a boa constrictor.

[anygunanywhere]

Regarding a confiscation, I don't think they'd ever come door to door. They'd have a deadline date to turn then in... maybe you'll get a FEMA gift card or something for complying. After that, there will be a stiff penalty (fine + jail) for being caught with a banned firearm. If they get registration first, they'll know who didn't participate in the turn in. Your neighbor or family might get a FEMA gift card for turning you in.

These sheriffs, along with the NRA, the House, and hopefully the SCOTUS, are an important piece of our bulwark.

Exactly. Everyone needs to keep in mind that it's a whole lot easier for the Feds to squeeze people out of their guns by making your life miserable in other ways than a Waco-style invasion. Tax penalties, civil actions, IRS audits, etc etc etc. Nothing that leads to dramatic shootouts; just squeeze-squeeze-squeeze like a boa constrictor.

Different people have different tolerances for being squeezed in different ways.

Some will not tolerate registration. This is their line in the sand.

Some will not tolerate direct confrontation and confiscation. This is their line in the sand.

Some will not tolerate their bank accounts/401k being frozen or liquidated. This is their line in the sand.

Some will not tolerate IRS audits. This is their line in the sand.

Some will not tolerate denial of medical care. This is their line in the sand.

I expect that we will learn where many individual's line in the sand is drawn.

Anygunanywhere