(Opinion) Livingston County Sheriff’s Letter To President Regarding Gun Control
Livingston County Sheriff Steve Cox
From Livingston County, Missouri Sheriff Steve Cox, 1/16/2013
Johnson County Sheriff Charles Heiss authored most of the following letter to President Obama. Sheriff Heiss has given me permission to copy and alter his letter and use as I see fit. I believe many Missouri Sheriff’s also share the same opinion of the following letter.
I have added a few sentences to the original letter so it better describes my views. I respect the opinion of all our citizens and I hope they also respect my opinion and the Oath of Office I have taken as their sheriff.
I personally and professionally believe there are many other useful ways to better help in educating and protecting our population then by dismantling the Constitution of the United States of America.
The Honorable Barak Obama
President United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President,
My name is Steve Cox and I am the Sheriff of Livingston County, Missouri. I have held this office since January 1, 2001. I am writing to you to express my concern with the tone of your administration with respect to the Second Amendment Rights of American citizens. It appears to me and many Americans that there is a genuine desire on the part of your administration to restrict the Second Amendment rights of law abiding American citizens in the interest of curbing gun violence in our nation.
I know of law abiding citizen that wants to ever see any child or adult harmed. However, I have also witnessed the Federal Government refusing to utilize the current laws to prosecute prohibited persons who are in possession of firearms. Too many of those people go on to harm others and/or create more crime victims before ever being prosecuted.
Throughout our nation’s history the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights has served as the very foundation of our free society. The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution has long guaranteed our citizens the right to keep and bare arms and is central to our ability to live in a free society. Any attempt to restrict these Second Amendment rights through executive order is in my opinion unconstitutional and tantamount to an all-out assault on the United States Constitution. Just as the Fourth Amendment of the constitution guarantees our citizens the right to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable search and seizure, the Second Amendment guarantees each of us the right to keep and bare arms to protect ourselves from anyone who would seek to cause us harm. This includes the federal Government.
World history has shown us that when a society does not possess the ability to defend itself it becomes ripe for victimization by criminals, and ripe for government oppression. One need not look too far in today’s world to see glaring examples of defenseless people being brutalized by rogue regimes and dictators. Syria, North Korea, and Mali are just a few examples of this type of oppression.
Furthermore, Mexico is a stark reminder of a society overrun with criminal element in the form of Drug Cartels. In my opinion, if your administration wanted to work on gun control and eliminate assault weapons going to criminals who are interested in killing other human beings then why did the Federal Government arm members of Mexican Drug Trafficking Organizations which have been used in violent crimes and murders (Fast and Furious)?
As the duly elected Sheriff of Livingston County, Missouri, it is my sworn duty to protect and defend the Constitutions of the United States of America, and the State of Missouri against all enemies both foreign and domestic. This means I not only have the duty to protect my constituents from incidents of crime, but I also have a duty and responsibility to protect and preserve the individual rights and liberties afforded and guaranteed to every citizen by our constitutions. This, Mr. President is a duty I fully understand, appreciate, and will carry out with great vigor and conviction. I will most certainly urge my fellow Sheriffs in the State of Missouri and across this great nation to rise to the defense and aid of all Americans should the federal government attempt to enact any legislation, or executive order that impedes, erodes, or otherwise diminishes their constitutional right to keep and bare arms. I will use all means legal to meet this solemn and sacred responsibility.
Respectfully,
Steve Cox, Sheriff
Livingston County, Missouri.
Thank you for being a true American. I honor you. God Bless
It seems Americans forget that the 2nd amendment is in place to protect us from a tyrannical government hence the right to militia language . I am totally against AWB or any new gun control measures as the sheriff pointed out the lack of commitment to enforce current laws. Comparing lawful gun owners to those who commit these acts is like comparing people who go to church to those who are affiliated with the Westboro church who protest funerals of the who died protecting the very rights we have to continually fight for. The scare factor the media place on the terminology it uses to describe modern sporting rifles is just another ploy to vilify owners of these firearms. If such strict gun laws are so effective why is the murder rate so high in Chicago,one of the meccas of firearm restrictions. Because it leaves people defenceless against criminals who will retain the ability to get firearms no matter what laws are enacted. Open your eyes and look deeper in this issue. This is just a vehicle to allow more personal freedoms to come under attack. Is nothing sacred anymore. What we need is a true leader not a puppet for celebrities. The tragedy that sparked all of this was a true shame,but any gun related restrictions proposed would not have prevented the act. I urge everyone to contact their Reps. and tell them to fight for our God given rights!
Sir: GOD bless you and yours, and also your deputies and their families. As an American, I am very proud of your stand in uphholding the U.S. Constitution. I hope we can reverse the direction we are taking toward a socialistic system that eliminates individual frreedoms and Liberties. Thank you again for helping retain them.
Could you please informConstitutional Sheriffs, their system is flawed. It does not allow info entry re btrthdate info for sign up. I and others have tried numerous times – it will not allow info entry. Thanks – God Bless.
This faux president is not eligible for this position and yet there’s not a judge within this United States who will hear the case, a Congress who not act, and a military who should stand down until he’s proved himself worthy of this position. His executive orders are tantamount to disarm Americans who have fought hard throughout the years for our freedoms. He should be removed from office immediately, jailed, and tried for treason and as a tyrant.
[...] and the Constitution," said Klingler. 13) Livingston County, (Missouri) Sheriff Steve Cox "I personally and professionally believe there are many other useful ways to better help in edu… 14) Morgan County, Alabama Sheriff Ana Franklin 15) Houston County, Alabama Sheriff Andy Hughes 16) [...]
[...] 7. Sheriff Steve Cox - Livingston County, Missouri [...]
[...] 7. Sheriff Steve Cox - Livingston County, Missouri [...]
[...] 7. Sheriff Steve Cox - Livingston County, Missouri [...]
[...] 7. Sheriff Steve Cox - Livingston County, Missouri [...]
[...] 7. Sheriff Steve Cox - Livingston County, Missouri [...]
[...] 7. Sheriff Steve Cox - Livingston County, Missouri [...]
Sir,
Thank you for you service.
[...] 7. Sheriff Steve Cox - Livingston County, Missouri [...]
[...] Sheriff Steve Cox - Livingston County, Missouri [...]
[...] 7. Sheriff Steve Cox – Livingston County, Missouri [...]
[...] 7. Sheriff Steve Cox - Livingston County, Missouri [...]
I’m from St. Charles, MO. Thank you! How many other Missouri Sheriffs’ are on board with you??
[...] 7. Sheriff Steve Cox - Livingston County, Missouri [...]
I’m putting these Sheriff’s responses on an interactive map, so people can get an idea of the scale of this resistance. In addition, I’m compiling the contact information for various Sheriffs’ Associations as well as individual Sheriffs’ Offices, and asking citizens to contact their Sheriffs and ask them to join their brothers in publicly denouncing the unconstitutional Federal gun grab attempts.
http://impliedinference.wordpress.com/2013/01/25/last-line-of-defense-sheriffs-chiefs-of-police/
Thank you, Sheriff Cox, for upholding the sanctity of that Document you swore to honor and protect. In so doing you protect us all from a servant federal government gone awry.
[...] 7. Sheriff Steve Cox - Livingston Countee, Missouri [...]
Thank you Sir!!! I am proud that LE like yourself supports the lawful gun owners. I would be very proud to live in your county. As a war veteran and a law abiding citizen I feel that other Sherrifs (Buchanan County) should follow your lead.