We’ve noted that a number of Washington State’s sheriffs have announced that they won’t be enforcing the gun control measures enacted under I-1639. That’s the constitutionally questionable ballot initiative that was approved in November which imposes an age limit on gun purchases, prohibits private gun sales, increases waiting periods and enacts a “safe storage” requirement.
The Washington State Sheriffs Association and the Washington State Law Enforcement Instructors Association opposed the ballot measure. And since it passed, by our count, 13 of the state’s county sheriffs (out of 39 counties) have announced that they won’t enforce the new law.
Now, in response to their defiance, death threats have been made against some of the sheriffs.
A Facebook user, identified as being located in Washington but outside of Spokane County, made threats toward sheriffs, including (Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie) Knezovich.
According to a press release from the SCSO, Spokane County Crime Check received a tip about the threats at about 1 p.m. on Monday. The caller who reported the comments was also located outside of Spokane County.
The caller said the posts threatened Washington sheriffs who have said they will not or cannot enforce I-1639.
The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is reportedly investigating.
A post by the Facebook account explicitly called out Knezovich, reading “Ozzie Knezovich is gonna get a bullet in his skull,” according to the release.
Another post from the Facebook user also referenced Republicans, saying “I am going to kill every single one of them,” according to the release. That comment came on a post about a story about Grant County Sheriff Tom Jones announcing his department would not enforce the initiative.
Apparently the irony of a gun control supporter threatening to shoot cops over enforcing limits on a civil right was lost on the Facebook keyboard commando. But he/she is probably about to find out that the FBI takes online threats — real or not — very seriously.
