Collin County Sheriff Terry Box says he, nor his deputies, will enforce unconstitutional gun laws put in place by whom he calls misguided politicians.
In the statement, Box said the following:
In light of recent events I feel I need to make a public statement of my views on this subject. As the Sheriff of Collin County, Texas, I have for the past 28 years served to protect and keep safe all citizens of our county, recognizing the trust placed in me with this profoundly important responsibility.
Unfortunately, the recent surge in the numbers of innocent victims who have died at the hands of unstable criminals has prompted politicians in Washington to seek to pass laws that would seriously erode the constitutional rights of innocent and law abiding citizens.
Neither I, nor any of my deputies, will participate in the enforcement of laws that violate our precious constitutional rights, including our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms.
As long as I remain Sheriff of Collin County, I will not participate in the actions of misguided politicians who seek to impede our citizen’s right to all of the privileges afforded by our Constitution.
Respectfully,
Terry G. Box
Sheriff, Collin County Texas
The longtime sheriff posted the statement on his personal Facebook page over the weekend after he said he was asked by hundreds of people urging him to do it.
Box's statement was posted just days after President Barack Obama signed a series of executive orders intended to reduce gun violence.
In a phone conversation with NBC 5 Monday, Box explained further:
"I think anytime we have a national tragedy that lawmakers in Washington and sometimes in Austin try to, what I call, a knee-jerk reaction on trying to make the public feel safe and try to create new laws. There is plenty of laws on the book that are being enforced, I hope we can prevent these tragedies."
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The sheriff said nearly 200 people have commented on his Facebook page since posting the statement and that all but a few of them support his message.
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