By Susan Duclos
Colorado Sheriffs are pushing back against Colorado's two aggressive gun control laws, passed by Democrats and awaiting the signature of the Democratic Governor. One says he won't enforce the laws in his country and another says he would go as far as to destroy his database of concealed carry permit owners and intervene if federal agents attempt to enforce the laws in his county.
Weld County Sheriff John Cooke:
The sheriff told the news outlet that he and other county sheriffs "won’t bother enforcing" the laws because it won't be possible to keep track of how gun owners are complying with the new requirements.
El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa:
"I can’t tell you when those were sold, bought and purchased. As far as I’m concerned, they were all pre-July 1 if the governor does sign this bill," he said.
Maketa said the proposed laws were hastily crafted and at least one would be unenforceable. A number of Colorado sheriffs are concerned the laws could lead to registration of gun owners, he said.
Maketa said his office keeps records of every concealed carry permit holder in the county as required by law, but he would never share it.
He said he would destroy the database if anyone tried to get their hands on it and would intervene if government agents started arresting county residents for exercising their constitutional rights.
Both sheriffs are elected officials, not appointed. Meaning they are elected by their county citizens to protect them and their constitutional rights. Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith, Mesa County Sheriff Stan Hilkey, Garfield County Sheriff Lou Vallario and Montrose County Sheriff Rick Dunlap, also have said they will not enforce any federal laws which violate the constitutional right to bear arms guaranteed by the Second Amendment.
(Links and names of 347 Sheriffs and 14 Sheriff's associations, across the country, saying no unconstitutional guns laws can be found here.)
Gun grabbing and gun control Democrats are about to get more than they expected by way of resistance. Not just from the citizens of their states but from the sheriff's s elected to defend those citizens as well as abide by his oath of office to "support the Constitution of the United States." El Paso County Sheriff Terry Maketa issued the following statement:
Most citizens throughout El Paso County are well aware of my second amendment stance. I have recently received several emails asking my position on this subject as well as my position on gun control and weapons bans. In response, I felt obligated to take a few minutes and reaffirm my position on firearms ownership and offer a few of my concerns with the wrongful approach I see championed and pushed upon us by elected leaders at the State and Federal level. First and foremost, I absolutely believe in our Second Amendment rights. I stand firmly against, any effort that infringes on the rights of law abiding citizens to own and posses firearms of their choice. Furthermore, I will actively oppose any effort that infringes upon your second amendment rights.
Like every elected official in the state, I took an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Colorado. This means all rights. Prior to being elected as Sheriff, I took the same oath as a Deputy Sheriff and prior to my law enforcement career, I was a firearms enthusiast and sportsman. I am among the millions of Americans who chooses to exercise their right to bear arms and I avoid judgment of those who choose not to. Today and everyday into the future, I will continue to not only exercise this right but ensure that our law abiding citizens' right to bear arms is protected. I personally believe this right among others is non-negotiable. Some have suggested this is a political issue or a right and left issue. I strongly oppose that suggestion. This is a constitutional rights issue and we should all stand by this document which is the foundation of this nation.
It is very disturbing to witness so many that have taken the same oath I have, to now flip flop and use tragedies such as the Sandy Hook school shooting to further their personal agenda and very flawed thought process. Bans such as those that have been discussed and proposed in this state and other states will not make our schools any safer. Emotionally labeling "scary looking" weapons as assault weapons and banning them will not make our schools and communities any safer. Sadly enough, those who propose these restrictions never would or could guarantee that by imposing such restrictions will ensure the safety of our communities. It does however, target law abiding citizens and chips away at our constitutional rights. The flawed thinking that the criminal or an individual intending harm will obey these laws is unrealistic and statistics have proven this year after year. The notion that restricting ammunition or requiring any form of registration is factually illogical and emotionally driven to achieve one agenda and that agenda is control. This is precisely why our forefathers had elected to give every law abiding citizen these absolute rights and why they restricted the power and authority of the government.
We as a civilized society should focus our collective efforts on the real factors contributing to the violence against children. The silent issue that society and our elected delegation refuse to address at the national and local level is how mental illness is affecting our society and the lack of resources available to address these illnesses. We should be sharing information concerning those diagnosed individuals who demonstrate violent or homicidal ideations. We should insure our mental health systems are available to all those afflicted with disorders or illnesses.
We also need to be focusing on our children and the influences they are exposed to and who and what is shaping their conceptual and analytical skills. They should be exposed to positive role models that increase their respect and appreciation for human life. They should not be consumed with influences or activities that devalue a human life. A seven or eight year old child should never be consumed with graphic and destructive video games that measure the player's success by how many people or things they can kill. This is an element that did not exist 30 years ago. Thirty years ago children played outside in the fresh air; today they sit with a remote, a mouse or toggle in their hand. They have become desensitized from constant stimulus and don't comprehend the value of human life or the finality of the loss of it.
Instead of the Federal Government, mainly Congress, continuing to engage in activities of which they have no authority and erodes our constitutional rights, we should focus on criminals and those who are most likely to commit acts of violence and not target the law abiding patriots of our nation.
- Sheriff Terry Maketa
