Sheriff: 'I will NOT violate my constitutional oath'
DOUGLAS COUNTY, Ore. -- Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin has sent a letter to Vice President Biden declaring that his deputies will not enforce any regulations they deem unconstitutional.
The letter was posted to the Sheriff's office Facebook page and their Web site, just about an hour after the president announced his plan for tighter gun laws.
Hanlin becomes the third Oregon sheriff to write a similar letter to the vice president regarding gun control legislation.
Sheriff Tim Mueller wrote a letter on Monday that quickly went viral when it was shared on Facebook.
Sheriff Hanlin writes that he agrees with Mueller, and will not direct his deputies to enforce any "unconstitutional directives."
Hanlin wrote, "The United States Supreme Court has ruled that when a sheriff chooses to enforce an unconstitutional directive, he is violating his Constitutional Oath."
Crook County Sheriff Jim Hensley said Tuesday he sent the same letter to Biden that was sent Monday by Linn County Sheriff Mueller.
This story will be updated
Thank you Sheriff Hanlin. You and a few of your fellow Sheriffs will always have my backing. True Americans.
Â
THANK YOU!!!
Â
And for all the so-called constitutional experts...how dare you... You would rather see our freedoms stripped away with your holier-then-thou hypocrisy. If you do not want the 2nd then leave for Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras where firearms are strictly controlled, where they have less weapons but far more deaths by firearms. Maybe just Chicago?
Â
Why am I thinking that the constitutional experts here are the only ones that could actually afford to move to central America...?
Â
Â
Â
Â
Copy cat to win the next election.
Agree, thanks Sheriff.
THANK YOU SHERIFF JOHN HANLIN AND THE OTHER SHERIFF IN THE STATE OF OREGON FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING!
THANKS SHERIFF.
After reading the Hanlin letter, I became annoyed at him using what I consider my stationary to get involved in something that has nothing to do with his job.    Hanlin talks about the sacredness of his Oath and then threatens to violate it by not enforcing the law.  The Sheriff sees himself as a constitutional expert, but I think he may be one of those people that slept through their 8th grade civics class.Â
 @Dillardian But this is part of his job, they take up an oath that tells them to defend the rights of their citizens, the 2nd amendment is such a right, thus making it part of his job. If you doubt that this is the pledge he takes, here is the oath of honor he swore to when he took office, "On my honor, I will never betray my badge, my integrity, my character, or the public trust. I will always have the courage to hold myself and others accountable for our actions. I will always uphold the constitution, my community, and the agency I serve," and here is what the 2nd amendment says, "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." The last 4 words are important to note here 'Shall NOT be infringed', last time I checked that ment not be messed with or changed whether by congressional change or executive order, and the only way to change an amendment via our constitutional regulations is for a super majority vote by 3/4 of the states to pass another amendment to change another amendment, the 2nd in this case. So going back to his oath if the 2nd amendment is altered it can NOT come by way of the congress or the President and it has to come by way of the people, or it is unconstitutional, which in turn is where it becomes part of sheriffs duties to keep safe the constitution in his county. I hope that was legal enough for you, next time research what his job is before you go blabbing
It is the Job of the Sheriff to enforce the law, not pick and chose. It is the job of the judicial to insure the constitutionality of a law, certainly not the Sheriff's. This is nothing more than political grandstanding of the worst sort.
Thank you Sheriff John Hanlin.....
Oh and by the way what would be the point of enforcing gun laws, when our country is filled with flammable fuel and powders that is easily accessable. which means if a person wanted to take revenge on classmates and cant get a gun, he'll atleast will beable to make some pretty powerful pipe bombs that can take out a whole class when a bullet isn't neccesarly going to kill its victum or create a fire..
Here in Douglas county many people take pride in their guns and the right to bare arms.. if you ask me i would say it would be a horrible idea to restrict gun laws, i believe that this could lead to mass shootings and even more officials getting shot by taking one's gun away....
 @Alexander Cowan I don't remember anybody having their guns taken away in the 1994 ban.  I don't remember anybody getting shot either.  Alexander, it's time to turn off Fox News. Â
Thank you Sheriff Hanlin. And thank you for taking you oath to protect and defend the Constitution from enemies foreign and DEMESTIC. You just earned my vote and my respect. Thank you also for restoring my faith in toward law enforcement. You sir are a true patriot. Let's hope that your colleagues follow your example.
@ Tamara^^^ Not this guy!!!!
Right On!!
good for them
Thank you sheriff Hanlin
We don't want the concept of 'Animal Farm' to happen-oh no not at all!
Norm Phillips I totally agree with you....is has blown up and he needs to resign if he wont up hold the law he cant just pick and choose
i like free thinkers but they usually stand alone
Sheriff Hanlin...Sir...You have my sword !
HATS OFF, THREE CHEERS, AND A HEART FELT... GOD BLESS YOU SHERIFF HANLIN, AND GOD BLESS OUR CONSTITUTION
than maybe he should resign, any laws passed amending the second ammendment will be the law
Thank you Sheriff.
You are my hero John!!!
State and Local DO not have to enforce any law that is not Constitutional under OATH.... The Federal Govt can HIRE People in ALL 50 states to enforce them and they can enforce Federal Law on Federal Land..  you go John Hanlin.. Thank YOU and All the other STATE/Local Police in Every STATE for upholding the US CONSTITUTION>>>> Of course look at Obama. 50,000 New IRS Agents to get all those poor people that cant pay his new Taxes....... Humm.. Not FANS of Liberals... Or Dictators...Â
Â
 @Smurf what makes the Sheriff a Constitutional authority?
Good for you John :)
I see where Douglas County Sheriff has written that he wii not violate the Constitution by enforcing any new gun control laws--I happen to know Sheriff Hanlin...while he is a nice fella, I think he has little knowledge of Constitutional law..It is scary, actually, that he believes he can decide what is or is not constitutional---My thought is that if he refuses to enforce any duly-enacted law, he ought to be recalled....Courts decide Constitutionality of law in our country, not Sheriffs (even ones funded by the NRA)
@Bob Millikan Ol' Rono. Your on the bench and don't understand... "will not be infringed" ? you don't need belong to the cult of the black robe to understand the 2nd article in amendment !
 @Bob Millikan So if the courts decide it's OK to assassinate citizens on
the president's say so, or throw all red headed people in concentration camps
we should all just go along with it?
Â
The fact that Obama once taught Constitutional Law is what should scare you.
Â
I think all the authority we need to resist blatantly unjust laws can be found in
Article l, Section 1 of the Oregon Constitution (and why do you think they put it *first*??)
Â
Natural rights inherent in people.
We declare that all men, when they form a social compact are equal in right: that all power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and happiness; and they have at all times a right to alter, reform, or abolish the government in such manner as they may think proper.
Â
and
Â
Section 27
Right to bear arms; military subordinate to civil power.
Â
The people shall have the right to bear arms for the defence [sic] of themselves, and the State, but the Military shall be kept in strict subordination to the civil power[.] [edit]
Â
Â
@Bob Millikan
If this is my WU buddy Bob, perhaps he can enlighten us on Sheriff Hanlin's claim that the Supreme Court has ruled that a sheriff would violate his oath if he enforces an unconstitutional law.
 @Bob Millikan  If you are Robert C. Millikan                                        "People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones"  the biggest case that came from Douglas County That I know of just came back to town.
                              Jesse Stuart Fanus
                              Sentenced to death: 1999
                        conviction and sentence of death imposed by
                              Robert C. Millikan, Judge.
 @jonsmith  @Bob Millikan The conviction was imposed by the  jury while Millikan imposed the death penalty.  The reason it's coming back is because a judge in Salem deemed Fanus' lawyer should have mentioned Fanus was abused as a child.  Crappola as far as I'm concerned.
 @Bob MillikanÂ
Â
Fanus murdered Maj. Gen. Marion Carl, 82, a World War II aviator hero, in 1998
 @Bob Millikan Your Honor?
 @Bob Millikan Very well said.
Sheriff Hanlin ROCKS!!!!!!!!
Makes you proud to live in Douglas County- well said Sheriff Hanlin- you have our support!
He is following the 200+ year old law of the land that was written by greater men than us. He is not making his own laws.
Thank You
THANK YOU! Sheriff John Hanlin .
Glenn...no he is not! He is saying they will follow the 2nd Amendment!! And Thank-you Sheriff John Hanlin for standing up for American citizens and our constitution...You've got tons of backers on this one!!
I Cannot LIke, Love, or show the amount of support I feel for this!! Â Pretty bad when the law has to say I won't be told to break the law by anyone including our President. I hope to see law enforcement all over the country voice this
So proud of you John. Norm, maybe we can trim a little fat off the first ammendment also. We didn't have flag burners or the westborn baptist church when the constitution was written, if you are going to pick at the second ammendment why not pick on the first when people are protesting military funerals, and the funerals of the victims from the connecticut shootings? How does the saying go....."Words are like bullets; if they escape, you can't catch them again.?" Maybe we can use school bullying as a reason to trim on that one.
Damn straight, thank you Sheriff Hanlin
Isn't it wonderful that each police force in America make there own laws. WOW
Are you staying that the police in Douglas County make up there own rules depending on own they stop
149 others in this thread will defend you and your family Norm.
This has nothing to do with the second amendment. When the second amendment was written it took about 10 minutes to reload your rifle. And there was no speed limit so should we be able to drive as fast as we want. If John Hanlin will not uphold the law, he should quit.
WTG Jphn I am so proud of you.
John, thank you. Our government has forgotten that our Constitution is not some outdated piece of paper subject to interpretation. It is inspiring to see you, & other officers, reaffirming your commitment to defend the Constitution from those who use it to only support their position, ie religion, and ignore it when it doesn't it.