Loading ...Sheriff Cole Releases Letter Addressing Gun Law Proposal
Sheriff Robin Cole is back in the headlines again this week, and this time he’s taking a stand against the executive actions President Obama laid out on Wednesday. Cole released an open letter saying he would refuse to enforce any such federal regulations that restrict guns.
In short, Cole says he doesn’t believe the federal government has a right to order states to follow mandates that violate the U.S. Constitution.
Here’s Cole’s letter in it’s entirety:
“January 15th, 2013
An open letter to the citizens of Pine County:
As Sheriff of Pine County, it is important for residents to know my position as it relates to the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. In the past week I have had several requests and one meeting on this matter. Normally I attempt to remain neutral on matters of politics but this issue transcends political division and I feel it appropriate to state my position.
I believe that the right to keep and bear firearms is fundamental to our individual freedom and that firearms are a part of life in our county. The Federal Government has a constitutional role in the governance of our republic but the United States of America is a democratic republic of individual sovereign states. Each state has the absolute right to establish laws, within the confines of the constitution which is the supreme law of this republic, to regulate behavior.
As Sheriff, I swore an oath to follow the Constitution of the United States and to enforce the laws of the State of Minnesota. I believe current state law is sufficient to protect the public safety while providing individuals the right to keep and bear arms.
If the State of Minnesota desires to change current law, then it must do so through the legitimate process of legislation. In my opinion it is a moral sin to erode freedom through obscure regulation and administrative rules. I believe this is also true for both State and Federal Government.
I do not believe the Federal Government or any individual in the Federal Government has the right to dictate to the states, counties or municipalities any mandate, regulation or administrative rule that violates the United States Constitution or it various amendments. I would view any such mandate, regulation or administrative rule illegal and refuse to carry it out.”
Commonsense People! 01/17/13 at 10:28am
He swore, on the bible, to uphold the laws of the State and the Federal government. He thinks he can pick and choose which laws he feels he wants to uphold? How about if I decide which laws I feel I morally want to follow, and go against his interpretation of the law? I am repulsed by this man who claims to be our head law enforcement official. He really wants every Tom, Dick & Harry to have Assault weapons? Including those that are going to panic at every little noise outside their home- thinking they are getting invaded?( I haven’t heard of any invasions lately in Pine County… or even the State of MN-) Are we expecting Canada to attack? I have no problem with people owning guns. But it is stupid and ignorant to claim that you need an assault rifle or even a semi- automatic for hunting. Uphold the 2nd amendment… ABSOLUTELY, but remember what type of “arms” we were talking about then. Musket guns. By all means… I’m all for that! Now, to impeach this Sheriff. How does he propose to uphold the law when he publicly states he will NOT uphold the laws of the State or Federal Government. He is just so media hungry it makes me ill.
Steve 01/17/13 at 12:10pm
The elected County Sheriff is one of the best resources to enforce the U.S. and state Constitution to stop government corruption and erosion of the rule-of-law. As citizens (not subjects) we must find out their positions on enforcing ANY federal regulations that contradict moral and Constitutional law.
What??? 01/17/13 at 3:40pm
Sheriff Cole should have remained neutral rather than thinking he could decide singlehandedly what is legal and what is not legal in Pine County. He has the same right to his opinion as anyone but to carry his personal opinion into action as county department policy is completely inappropriate.
Tim 01/17/13 at 5:56pm
I believe he is saying he will not uphold any unconstitutional law. As in a law that has not properly gone thru the constitutional process of being made a law. IE executive orders signed by one man behind a desk. The second amendment does not mention muskets it says arms. The right to bear arms does not apply to just hunting. If u want to truely know what the founding fathers meant by a citizens right to bear arms read the Federalist papers. The true right to bear arms is so that the citizens of the United States of America have the power if need be to stop an over reaching dictorial government. To stop citizens from becoming subjects. Jefferson says it is the right and duty of all citizens to take up arms against an over powering government that is no longer controlled by its people. The second ammendent is not a right to hunt its a right for the citizens to defended themselves against an out of control government that makes slave’s out of the people. Now before all u anti-gun people flip out, I am by no means saying we should grab our guns and whip out the government. What i am saying it is my right to have arms to defend myself my family and the American way of life. Remember also the president said not one of the 23 executive orders he signed will stop anything like a school shooting from happening again. So what is the point of the orders. I leave u with this those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
S(c)h(m)i(d)t house 01/17/13 at 11:18pm
Dear ‘Commonsense People!’
If you had read your Constitution, and the above open letter from Sheriff Cole, you would realize that he IS abiding by the laws…. He is protecting us (the Joe Plumber citizens of Pine County) from the very evil of the Presidency.
Let me ask you:
Have you ever been asleep during the day (because you work nights to pay for your house) and you hear footsteps in your house because you are being robbed? I have.
Have you ever been so scared of your former spouse (with an Order of Protection filed) that you haven’t slept in days wondering when he was going to come for you the last time? I have.
Have you ever had the neighborhood dogs come in and kill your livestock and then say “my dogs don’t leave the yard” when you confront them? I have.
Have your ever had your neighbors making meth and stealing gas out of your tractors on a weekly basis? I have.
Have you ever had ‘suspicious vehicles’ parked on your roadways waiting for their ‘deals’? I have.
I support the 2nd Amendment and shame on any political agendas trying to take this right away from us as Citizens of the United States of America. I support Sheriff Robin Cole in his stand to uphold his sworn duties.
I have two registered weapons in my house, and by God I will use them on any SOB threatening my life.
Signed,
a reigstered voter in Pine County
Cindy 01/18/13 at 9:30am
I am so proud of our Sheriff for doing what it right. He knows the Constitution and the 2 ammendment.
Signed:
A Concerned Citizen of the United States
Commonsense People! 01/18/13 at 11:12am
DEAR S(C)H(M)I(D)T HOUSE:
I have read the constitution and the letter from the “Sheriff” & I still disagree with this Sheriff. I don’t trust that man at all.
Thank God I am so blessed that NO I do not have a former spouse to be afraid of, and no to all the other situations you describe. I am NOT ANTI-gun. I grew up with guns in our home. There is nothing being said that any guns are being confiscated from anybody. Unless of course you are a violent criminal then you should be worried about losing your guns.
I’m not saying I don’t protect my home and my family. I just personally choose NOT to own a gun because I know that if my home were broken into, i would probably end of being the one shot with my own weapon. I am Blessed that where I live is in a nice and safe neighborhood with neighbors who watch out for each other. That is not to say that there haven’t been break-ins. I do not agree that we are at risk of our country being taken over. And if your life is really being threatened you certainly should have the right to defend yourself. Just don’t believe we need assault weapons to do so. Just hope you don’t have what happened to the Grandpa in Rochester who shot his own Granddaughter. Now that is a threat!!
We need to settle down, and quit freaking out about the hype the media and certain organizations are pushing down our throats.
Taxpaying Registered PC Voting citizen 01/18/13 at 11:59am
Well this is great, now all the criminals can rest assured in Pine County that they are safe from Pine County Sheriff’s Office and can keep their guns. I wonder do the deputy’s really like going into domestics and other situations facing all these lawfully owned guns? The more guns, the more chances of accidents. Do families whose children have been accidently shot really believe they need to have guns? I’d rather risk a break-in, and someone stealing my DVD’s and TV’s then risk one of my children being accidently shot. People, nobody who lawfully owns guns are going to have their guns confiscated.
I also find it funny that Hennepin County Sheriff’s office will be upholding the Federal and State Laws. But little Pine County Sheriff is going to be tough and do what he wants. Well, he got his name in the paper again. Maybe next time he should call a press conference.
Taxpayer 01/20/13 at 8:02pm
Just keep watching this idiot that was somehow elected by people that believe this moron is the answer. Lets spend another several thousand on hats and jackets made of leather, who work here for a few months than leave and start over again somewhere else when they see what kind of fool we got running this ship, to the tune of $28,000. Ya real nice, lets not follow federal or state laws and get our state and federal funding shut off, that is real smart, than you can sell your firearms to pay your taxes after there is no more tax credits, and food and fuel supplements for people that need it. Quit trying impress us Cole, that ship sailed long ago!
alice 01/21/13 at 9:57am
I am proud of our sheriff and his insistence that our constitution comes first. This is the patriotism we have been needing in this country and in our public offices. This man is the kind of guy I will continue to vote for. He has done a fantastic job, and even if you don’t agree with his views, let his record speak for itself. We needed a sheriff like him around, a person who works for us, who is not too good to be among us, and is truly out for our interests. I thank God for our second amendment!
Taxpayer 01/22/13 at 5:08pm
Alice
I don’t know where you have been since Robin Cole took office, but you better get your head out of the sand and maybe check the stats on employee turnover,cost over runs,and if you really want to see someone tell untruths attend a board meeting and watch him in action when this hero of yours lies to Commissioners, and ignores there policies. Read the article in Sunday paper (1/20/13), where his previous boss says his stand is “Political Rhetoric” and his previous boss has gone much farther and has a lot more public respect! His statement on the second amendment is nothing more than a political move for next election to make him look like he actually knows something, or cares, and is looking for support from hunters and gun owners only as a political push.