Hancock County Sheriff writes President Obama, promises not to enforce gun control laws | News

FINDLAY, OH (Toledo News Now) - Hancock County Sheriff Michael Heldman released a letter he says he sent to President Obama Monday.  In the letter, Heldman says he and his office will not “recognize or enforce” any law “which infringes on the right of the citizens of Hancock County, Ohio to keep and bear arms for their security”.

Sheriff Heldman cites the second amendment to the United States Constitution, and Article 1, Section 4 of the Ohio Constitution in the letter.

Sheriff Heldman says one reason he does not intend to enforce any new gun laws is because of the large area relatively few deputies have to cover in the county.

“On a given time there may be two or three deputies on the road and there's a lot of people out there with weapons that live in their own home and they want to protect themselves,” said Heldman.

 Click here to see the letter in PDF form. Read the full text of the letter below:

February 1, 2013

Dear Mr. President,

I am writing this letter to you as a duly sworn and legally elected Sheriff in Hancock County, Ohio.

It has come to my attention that you and some of your administration believe that the 2nd Amendment of The Constitution of the United States is up for your personal interpretation, and that there is a movement underway from the White House, and the Senate, and the Congress to take away the right of the people of this free country to keep guns and ammunition for their personal defense and security.

May I remind you that the Constitution of the great state of Ohio, Article 1, section 4 states:

The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security

And, the Constitution of the United States, in the Bill of Rights, 2nd Amendment states:

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.

As you, I placed my hand on the Bible and promised to protect and defend the Constitution of The United States of America, with that promise, and with that oath, I will defend that Constitution in its entirety, until my dying day. I made that promise before God, and before the free citizens of Hancock County, and I will keep that promise.

It is with my blessing and my elected position as Sheriff, of Hancock County, Ohio, that the right of the people in the county which I represent will continue, to keep and bear arms for their defense and security, and that right will not be infringed upon by any enemy, foreign, or domestic.

You have my solemn promise that I will defend the Constitution I swore to uphold. Our free citizens will remain free citizens, and as free citizens, we recognize as our only ultimate governmental authority – The Constitution of these United States.

Any edict, regulation, or so called "federal law" which infringes on the right of the citizens of Hancock County, Ohio to keep and bear arms for their security, will not be tolerated, recognized or enforced by me or my office.

- Michael E. Heldman, Sheriff

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