Still another county sheriff is deeply gouging a line in the sand, pledging to protect and serve the people who elected him by defending their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Sheriff Steve Reams of Weld County, Colorado, has declared that he will go to jail if it comes to that rather than enforce a Red Flag gun law that is moving through the state’s legislature.
Red Flag gun laws are controversial but often garner bipartisan support. On the surface, they are promoted as being about taking guns out of the hands of dangerous, mentally ill people–a reasonable political position for many pliable politicians. However, Red Flag laws in practice are necessarily vague about protecting civil liberties.
These laws are practically designed to mobilize a rapid police response to a single citizen’s complaint about an individual with the aim of removing guns from that person’s possession, “just in case” he or she has the potential to pose a danger to himself or others.
Sheriff Reams joins a lengthening line of law enforcement officers from around the nation who are taking similar stands. “It’s a matter of doing what’s right,” he said. “I’ve explained time and time again … I’m not bluffing.”
More than half the counties in Colorado oppose the bill, and 32 of them have declared their boundaries to delineate Second Amendment sanctuaries.
The U.S. Constitution is the bedrock foundation of American laws and liberties. The Second Amendment to the Constitution essentially gives citizens the power to enforce the provisions of the Constitution and to defend themselves from tyranny. Within the Second Amendment itself the original framers wisely emphasized that “it shall not be infringed.”
Red Flag gun laws open a huge door to misuse and abuse by not only the government but also by political or personal opponents … possibly as the result of nothing more than anger or malice.
Colorado’s “Extreme Risk Protection Order” bill allows a family member, roommate, or law enforcement to petition a judge to remove someone’s firearms. The process takes place via an ex-parte hearing in which the gun owner would not have an opportunity to defend or challenge the claims made against them or to even be notified of the proceedings.
So this not only is a Second Amendment issue but obviously also an infringement of the Fifth Amendment–the right to due process of law.
David Kopel is a constitutional law expert who has done extensive research into gun laws. He noted that he has reservations about the Colorado bill and other similar laws because of the amount of influence being exerted on lawmakers by outside influences. “The gun-ban lobbies are getting more and more extreme and aggressive,” he said.
He also pointed out that when such a law is implemented, it would be easy to envision someone misusing the law to disarm a person they intend to violently target.
Colorado’s state Senate passed the bill Thursday by a single vote, without any Republican support. With a Democrat majority in the House, it is expected to pass there and be passed on to the Democrat Governor Jared Polis in short order.
El Paso County has already indicated that it intends to file a legal challenge to the law as soon as it is passed.
This law won’t keep people safe. It will wrongfully disarm people. Following the constitution is what we should expect from our elected officials. Shame on the Democrats.
— Christopher Sanchez (@chris_sanch3z) April 1, 2019
“Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.” This man is a hero of our country.
— Chad Spenser (@chad_spenser) April 1, 2019
First you need to force our government to stop letting illegals and MS13 gangs in our country .Democrats want open boarders crazy. No I vill never agree to take any firearms away from good people and you think our state governments are smart enough to know who should or not .
— David R (@DavidR55784376) April 1, 2019
This law won’t keep people safe. It will wrongfully disarm people. Following the constitution is what we should expect from our elected officials. Shame on the Democrats.
— Christopher Sanchez (@chris_sanch3z) April 1, 2019
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
- NJ school teacher yells at students she hopes they die ‘painful death’ from coronavirus for playing at park - April 27, 2020
- Trump’s briefing-alternative included bold counteroffensive: ‘No respect for people running Fox News’ - April 27, 2020
- Candace Owens questions next moves in COVID19 strategy: ‘None of this makes any sense’ - April 26, 2020
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!