Logan County Sheriff opposes new gun laws

Guthrie — Logan County Sheriff Damon Devereaux has declared Logan County as Oklahoma’s first 2nd Amendment sanctuary county.

According to the Guthrie Leader, Devereaux said he will oppose any laws that infringe on the constitutional right to bear arms and he won’t enforce any state laws contrary to that right.

In a release he said:  “Let it be known that the Logan County Sheriff hereby declares his intent to oppose any and all infringements on the rights and liberties of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms using such legal means as may be expedient, including, without limitation, court action, and let it be known that the Logan County Sheriff hereby expresses his intent that no public funds will be used in any manner to restrict the Second Amendment rights of citizens of Logan County, or to aid federal, state, or any municipal agencies in the restriction of said rights, and  let it be known the undersigned Logan County Sheriff hereby declares Logan County as a ‘Second Amendment Sanctuary County’ on February 12, 2020.

“Now, therefore, let it be known that while the Logan County Sheriff has so declared Logan County, Oklahoma, a Second Amendment Sanctuary County and also engages the Logan County Board of Commissioners in respectfully recommending and petitioning their affirmative resolution of unqualified support for this declaration.”

The Oklahoma Legislature has some pending bills that would ban so-called “assault weapons” in some places, that would limit magazine capacities and that would repeal constitutional carry (which became law last year).

“I would say it’s my right as a constitutional sheriff to, if a law comes down that we feel is a violation of the Constitution, that we will not support that law,” Devereaux said in the Guthrie Leader.

Some Democrat lawmakers are unhappy about the designation.

State Rep. Jason Lowe, D-Oklahoma City, said, “I would hope that the sheriff of Logan County would uphold all of the Constitution and not just parts of it. This is a political stunt that has nothing to do with public safety and everything to do with the sheriff’s politics. It also doesn’t change that Oklahomans have yet to have their say on whether the state should require training before someone carries a firearm in public.”  

Lowe has filed an initiative petition to repeal constitutional carry.