Received this evening from TN Sheriff's Association

[Worriedman]

Statement from the Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association dated 01/30/2013
The Sheriffs of Tennessee are strong supporters of the 2nd Amendment rights of their citizens and have taken an oath to uphold the Constitution of the State of Tennessee, the Constitution of the United States of America, and the laws and ordinances of their counties and will fulfill that oath. The Tennessee Sheriffs’ Association and the Tennessee Firearms Association co-authored the Tennessee Handgun Permit Law in May of 1994.

Edited January 31, 2013 by Worriedman

[Guest PapaB]

That's good to hear but is this the same group that was lined up behind the Governor against the guns in restaurants with alcohol bill? If so, I'd like to hear their definition of "strong supporters of the 2nd Amendment rights of their citizens" because I'm not singing out of their hymn book.

[BrasilNuts]

If I'm not mistaken the group behind the Govenor were police chiefs.

[Defender]

They leave themselves too much wiggle room in that statement.  Even the gun banners say they support the Constitution!   That Sheriff's group out of Oregon said it best in their letter.  Come on, Tennessee!

[Sky King]

Nice statement but it lacks the real backbone that is communicated in a similiar statement issued in writing by the Utah Sheriff's Association.  This statement does not come out and say that the sheriffs of this state will protect their citizens from federal officials attempting to enforce unconstitutional federal laws.

[frankmako]

wiggle room, wiggle room, wiggle room.   no backbone in their statement.  we have gotten to a point where good men will not stand up for what is right.  wiggle room, wiggle room.

[Worriedman]

My take, they could say NOTHING, be politically expedient and keep their heads down. 

 

I for one am glad to see them issue at least that statement.  We will get nada from Mayors and their politically appointed Chiefs of Police.

[Guest PapaB]

If I'm not mistaken the group behind the Govenor were police chiefs.

 

You're right. I checked the old stories and they cited 50 Police and prosecutors, not sheriffs.

[Sky King]

My take, they could say NOTHING, be politically expedient and keep their heads down. 

 

I for one am glad to see them issue at least that statement.  We will get nada from Mayors and their politically appointed Chiefs of Police.

I agree, I just wish it went a bit further as the Utah Sheriffs' letter did.  I am really turned off by Chiefs of Police who are not only appointed and therefor at the will of their mayor but they are also in the minority in regards to LEOs as a whole.  The rank and file leos  usually ARE supportive of citizens being legally armed and carrying.  But the liberal press will never bring out that point.   

[DaveTN]

This statement does not come out and say that the sheriffs of this state will protect their citizens from federal officials attempting to enforce unconstitutional federal laws.

Because they can’t. That would be like telling a person an order of protection will protect them. They can’t protect you from criminals and they can’t protect you from the Feds either.

[ttocswob]

Fentress County Sheriff Tony Choate made a stronger statement; I quoted and linked in the other thread.

[Sky King]

Because they can’t. That would be like telling a person an order of protection will protect them. They can’t protect you from criminals and they can’t protect you from the Feds either.

Ok, maybe "protect" was a poor choice of words.  Here is the letter from the Utah Sheriffs Association to President Obama:

 

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

 

I also attended a meeting where Sheriff Richard Mack, former Sheriff of Graham County Arizona spoke.  During his tenure, federal officers informed the sheriffs of the state that they would be required to enforce the so-called “Brady Bill” and run background checks at their expense under the law. In 1994, Mack and six other sheriffs from across the country, challenged the constitutionality of the Brady Bill and ultimately, fought it all the way to the United States Supreme Court, where they won a monumental decision for freedom.

 

What elected sheriffs need to do is refuse to enforce unconstitutional law. 

[Randall53]

We already know where the cowardly mayors of the major cities of tennessee stand.....and it's ain't with the law abiding armed citizens.

They are not worthy to shine the shoes of the Utah Sheriffs group that sent that letter. Edited February 2, 2013 by Randall53

[Jason in TN]

I will agree this statement does not go far enough. Utah has it right.

Jason

[Worriedman]

For those unhappy with the verbiage from the Sheriff's Association, contact your local County Sheriff and ask him to publish a more specific, stronger statement.