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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.

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

Excaliber wrote: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.

fickman wrote: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 wrote:

fickman wrote: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.