MEDFORD, Ore -- Sheriffs in southern Oregon and Northern California are saying no to a gun ban. Jackson County Sheriff Mike Winters says as long as he is in office he'll up hold citizens constitutional rights.
In a press conference Wednesday afternoon Winters said it wasn't a matter of opinion, "The Sheriffs Office is not going to be going against the constitution, the 2nd amendment, not in this county," he said.
Winters says as long as he is sheriff no one will be taking firearms out of the hands of Jackson County residents, "if the feds think they're going to take guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens, the federal agencies think that, that's not the case in this particular county," the Sheriff explained. He says he would go against a federal gun ban to protect the right to bear arms.
Winters isn't the only one sticking firm to the second amendment. Siskiyou County Sheriff John Lopey says he also prefers to go by the constitution, "you know the us constitution is the supreme law of the land and i believe it should be honored," Lopey said.
The Siskiyou County Sheriff doesn't think a ban on certain rifles or magazines would stop mass shootings like the one in Connecticut. "In 35 years in law enforcement I am absolutely convinced that taking away firearms from law-abiding citizens is not the way to attack this violent crime problem," Lopey said, which is why he's taking action and writing to lawmakers. He's writing letters to President Obama and to Sen. Dianne Feinstein.
In Josephine County Sheriff Gil Gilbertson says he wrote to Vice President Biden Wednesday morning arguing against a gun ban. Other Oregon Sheriff protesting include, Crook, Curry and Linn Counties. Klamath County's Sheriff says he is a strong proponent of the constitution but isn't writing any letters.
Winters says he hasn't written to Washington yet but he has spoken to local lawmakers, hoping the president will reconsider an executive order and wait for congress to pass a bill. "They can't just circumvent the voice of the people, and the sheriff is one of those voices, and just arbitrarily rule like a dictator," Winter's said.
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