Dear President Obama:
We, the elected sheriffs of Utah, like so many of our fellow Americans, are literally heartbroken for the loved ones of the murdered victims in Connecticut. As Utahans, we are not strangers to this kind of carnage—one of the latest being the 2007 Trolley Square murders wherein nine innocents were gunned down—five losing their lives. We also recognize the scores of other recent domestic massacres, which have decimated countless honorable lives. As Americans, we value the sanctity of life. Furthermore, similar to our inspired Founders, we acknowledge our subservience to a higher power. With the number of mass shootings America has endured, it is easy to demonize firearms; it is also foolish and prejudiced.
Firearms are nothing more than instruments, valuable and potentially dangerous, but instruments nonetheless. Malevolent souls, like the criminals who commit mass murders, will always exploit valuable instruments in the pursuit of evil. As professional peace officers, if we understand nothing else, we understand this: lawful violence must sometimes be employed to deter and stop criminal violence. Consequently, the citizenry must continue its ability to keep and bear arms, including arms that adequately protect them from all types of illegality. As your administration and Congress continue to grapple with the complex issue of firearm regulations, we pray that the Almighty will guide the People’s Representatives collectively.
For that reason, it is imperative this discussion be had in Congress, not silenced unilaterally by executive orders. As you deliberate, please remember the Founders of this great nation created the Constitution, and its accompanying Bill of Rights, in an effort to protect citizens from all forms of tyrannical subjugation. We respect the Office of the President of the United States of America. But, make no mistake, as the duly-elected sheriffs of our respective counties, we will enforce the rights guaranteed to our citizens by the Constitution. No federal official will be permitted to descend upon our constituents and take from them what the Bill of Rights—in particular Amendment II—has given them. We, like you, swore a solemn oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and we are prepared to trade our lives for the preservation of its traditional interpretation.
The Utah Sheriffs’ Association
Replies
YOU ROCK!!
Thank you Sheriffs for your support of our constitution. Know that most of America stands with you.
im being told that iDaho legislators and Utah legislators are coming together. Gov. otter has lost much of his standing and the land boards are working together to retrieve the lands promised to them back in the 1800's.
Hats off in SALUTE to the Utah Sheriff's Association! We the PEOPLE need more elected officials at state and county levels to STAND UP FOR AMERICA and speak out against this corrupt government!
I laud and applaud all of those in the Utah Sheriffs’ Association.
I must point out though that our Rights are not given they are endowd by our creator.
The right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
Thank you all
Ken
REMEMBER America--the Constitution and Bill of Rights are the BIRTH CERTIFICATE of U.S. Government--the Constitution WAS NOT a limitation of RIGHTS AGAINST THE PEOPLE--it is LIMITATIONS ON POWER OF GOVERNMENT! IF 99.99% of Americans AND OWEbama want GUN BANS--that Bill of Rights PROTECTS ALL CITIZENS DOWN TO THE SMALLEST MINORITY OF ONE PERSON!