Letter - Sheriff will not enforce any new gun laws

To the editor:

In the last several weeks the topic of a so-called “assault weapons” ban has been discussed nationwide.

Interestingly, yet not widely known, we have a brave individual among us Minnesotans in that of Pine County Sheriff Robin Cole. Sheriff Cole announced to the press that he, in his capacity as sheriff of Pine County, will not enforce any new gun bans in his jurisdiction.

Law enforcement in all forms already practices what I will call “selective non-enforcement” of a plethora of laws. Sheriff Cole is an elected official and can be recalled by his constituents if they are dissatisfied with his performance.

Are our sheriffs in these parts as willing to defend the harmless freedoms that gun owners in these parts have enjoyed for decades? Or are they going to remain silent while this brave individual stands the gaff alone?

In a society where mayhem can break out at any moment, and has, in the midst of natural disasters and urban unrest, why would any decent and patriotic sheriff choose to weaken a law-abiding citizen’s ability to defend themselves with whatever semi-automatic weapon that they feel proficient and comfortable with, by enforcing such a proposed ban?

Pandora’s box was flung open years ago. These weapons will continue to be used against our nation’s citizens, regardless of any proposed bans. There are many other ways to address these issues without disarming law-abiding citizens and rendering us less capable of meeting mentally unstable and/or criminal individuals with equal firepower. They will go on using these weapons, while we are denied them.

Thank you, Sheriff Cole, and God bless you for your brave and Constitutional stand. I can only pray that the local sheriffs in our parts are as brave and sensible as you are and join you in your public stand.

Judd Hoff

Hoffman, MN

Tags: opinion, letters