Sheriff Letter Writing/Phone Call Campaign!

[DrDavid]

Did someone say grass-roots? Let's start writing to each and every Sheriff in California. They are elected representatives, and as such should not be immune from a letter writing campaign.

Let's write them and impress upon them the oath of office, and that following and upholding the constitution means that they must NOT enforce unconstitutional laws.

For ease, here's a list of all the Sheriff's offices contact info: http://www.calsheriffs.org/sheriffs-offices.html

Let the phone calls and letter writing commence!

[DrDavid]

I wrote to Sheriff Stan Sniff (Riverside). I thought you might like to see what I wrote:

Sheriff Sniff,

I have read, with some delight, that a number of your fellow California Sheriff's have written to Vice President Joe Biden to inform him that they will not be enforcing unconstitutional gun laws and bans.

Sheriff Adam Christiansen (Stanislaus County), Sheriff Jon Lopey (Siskiyou County), Sheriff Mims (Fresno County) and Sheriff Jerry Smith (Butte County) have all, thus far, made statements in support of the 2nd Amendment; and have stated that they will not enforce unconstitutional laws.

We both know that law-abiding citizens are not the problem. Creating more laws that restrict what law-abiding citizens can or can't do does not help reduce crime. Restricting magazine size too, has little impact in the number of deaths a mentally ill person with a gun can cause. In fact, the school shooting at Columbine (which occurred during the 1st Assault Weapons Ban of 1994) was carried out with 10 round magazines. The assailants simply swapped magazines as many times as needed. In Newtown, the assailant had 20-minutes of unhindered time to commit as many murders as possible; magazine size would have had no impact whatsoever.

What would have helped is more people with CCW's, in more places, with larger capacity magazines. No criminal would change his murderous plans because of a new law. As Wayne LaPierre said in his national address after Newtown, the only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun, is a good guy with a gun. In fact, as we've seen over and over again, having a CCW holder on the scene of an active shooting reduces the number of deaths, and greatly increases the odds that the event will be brought to a swift end.

In fact, in places like Chicago, where there is almost a total gun ban, crime is at an all-time high. New York City has a similar problem; tough gun laws, but very high crime. If these gun laws worked, New York and Chicago would be the safest cities in our Union; sadly, they are not.

As a voting resident of Riverside County, I implore you to consider sending a strongly worded letter to the Vice President stating that your oath of office will necessarily preclude the enforcement of any gun law that tries to circumvent our constitutional rights.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

DrDavid

Writing to your elected representatives WILL help. Even if they're anti! Don't let them claim that, "No one disagreed with me!"

[uechikid]

OK, done deal. Thanks for the contact info.

[buster1960]

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[WD_40]

When writing, please keep in mind that Sheriff Sniff is one of the good ones. By all means let him hear from you, but just keep that in mind when crafting the tone of the letter.

[-hanko]

IF your sheriff were against enforcing Zero's new crap, why would he/she also be against enforcing current California crap?

Wouldn't he/she have already made that announcement?

-hanko

[wildhawker]

CA sheriffs and hundreds of Chiefs of PDs are going to ignore the law and not enforce them?

What an odd presumption.

Why not spend energy on beating the bills?

-Brandon

[DrDavid]

CA sheriffs and hundreds of Chiefs of PDs are going to ignore the law and not enforce them?

What an odd presumption.

Why not spend energy on beating the bills?

-Brandon

Agreed. But, this helps too IMHO. It sends a clear message to congress and Sacramento. It's yet another note in the concert.

[DrDavid]

When writing, please keep in mind that Sheriff Sniff is one of the good ones. By all means let him hear from you, but just keep that in mind when crafting the tone of the letter.

Agreed. Sheriff Sniff is def. one of the good guys.

[wildhawker]

Sheriffs and CPDs are the least relevant. Why would they matter? They don't.

If you want to waste time and burn cycles "doing something" there are better ways to do it.

[DrDavid]

Sheriffs and CPDs are the least relevant. Why would they matter? They don't.

If you want to waste time and burn cycles "doing something" there are better ways to do it.

Yes, and right after you burn a cycle writing a letter, go here: http://www.firearmspolicy.org/take-action and write to your representatives in DC.

I still think winning the PR battle makes winning the war easier.

[Doheny]

Frankly these letters both to and from the sheriffs serve no purpose. The letters from the sheriffs to Biden are simply political posturing and a way for them to get their name in the paper. Local LEOs will have no say in the enforcement of the vast majority of the measures being proposed.

Also, it's not up to a sheriff to decide what's constitutional. If a gun or mag ban is voted on by congress, it then becomes constitutional, whether we like it or not (barring a SCOTUS decision otherwise.)

Wildhawker is right. Efforts are better spent at defeating these measures at the federal level.

[Wiz-of-Awd]

Sheriffs and CPDs are the least relevant. Why would they matter? They don't.

If you want to waste time and burn cycles "doing something" there are better ways to do it.

Aren't their opinions and stance on an issue something that the public looks at though? Perhaps - if nothing else - a law enforcement figure that is pro-2A to help sway the anti attitudes towards guns?

As step in the right direction of changing public opinion on guns and gun ownership?

A.W.D.

[garand1945]

Frankly these letters both to and from the sheriffs serve no purpose. The letters from the sheriffs to Biden are simply political posturing and a way for them to get their name in the paper. Local LEOs will have no say in the enforcement of the vast majority of the measures being proposed.

Also, it's not up to a sheriff to decide what's constitutional. If a gun or mag ban is voted on by congress, it then becomes constitutional, whether we like it or not (barring a SCOTUS decision otherwise.)

Wildhawker is right. Efforts are better spent at defeating these measures at the federal level.

I disagree that these letters serve no purpose. The most local unit of law enforcement is taking a stand that they will not support the Federal Government in enforcing unlawful gun laws. Recognized governmental authority saying they will not comply with unconstitutional laws is a significant act of defiance. This is unprecedented in our lifetimes, and I guarantee people are taking note.

This echoes colonial times after the Powder Alarm when the colonists got organized at a local level city by city.

We are winning and we need to support these Sheriffs. But we also need to be writing all of our elected officials weekly and letting them know where we stand. We all need to stand together, and keep beating the drums on all fronts.

I agree that the most direct impact is keeping bad bills from becoming law. If you can only write one letter, write your representatives, but if you will take the time to write more, write everyone.

[pitbull30]

I'm in. Added LA county sheriff to my mailing list. I also added the LA city mayor after i saw him on TV saying "he would not wait for the Fed govt or the NRA" to tell him what to do. What's one more letter to print and 30 seconds cost me ?

nothing in my opinion.