There’s no getting around it: the conflict between gun control and gun rights advocates is bound to get bloody. It’s only a matter of time before some New York, New Jersey or other state law enforcement officer (LEO) tries to enforce a ban against “high-capacity” magazines and/or “assault rifles” and meets armed resistance. Ruby Ridge redux. Equally, if Uncle Sam’s SWAT teams try to enforce a federal AWB or mag cap law inside a “firearms friendly” state chances are they’ll face armed resistance from gun/mag owners and local law enforcement. Yes there is that . . .
Hundreds of sheriffs around the country have signed pledges promising not enforce any federal firearms law requiring confiscation. The stage is set for state vs. federal LEO armed conflict.
One wonders if local LEOs will walk the talk should push come to shove with federal firearms legislation. Will they [literally] stand with gun owners who own modern sporting rifles and standard capacity magazines?
This is no longer a pie-in-the-sky theoretical question (nor has it been since Hurrican Katrina). As foxnews.com reports, Texas is talking tough on the f-the-feds’ firearms frisking front.
Under a measure advancing in the Texas Capitol, local police officers could be convicted of a crime for enforcing any new federal gun control laws.
Rep. Steve Toth, a newly elected Republican from the Woodlands, said his proposal would prevent officers from carrying out any future federal orders to confiscate assault rifles and ammunition magazines.
“There’s a federal law, there’s a 30-round magazine right in front of you – what do I do?” Toth said in an interview. The measure known as the Firearm Protection Act “answers that question in spades,” he said. It moved Tuesday to the House Committee on Federalism . . .
“The federal government is not our boss,” [Texas rep Richard] Mack said. “If there’s any place that that’s applicable and true, it’s the state of Texas.”
So Texas lawmen will be required to resist Uncle Sam’s gun-grabbing goons. And there is another place where the “you’re not the boss of me” spirit will inform any federal push to ban any type of firearm or magazine.
examiner.com reports that one Badger State Sheriff is in the Hell-no side of the conflict and agrees that federal gun control spells big trouble in little China (so to speak).
Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke warned of a second American revolution if gun control and gun confiscation passed and said he would not enforce laws requiring confiscation in his county . . .
“First of all, to me that would be an act of tyranny,” he said of the gun control measures currently under consideration. “So the people in Milwaukee County do not have to worry about me enforcing some sort of order that goes out and collects everybody’s handgun, or rifles, or any kind of firearm and makes them turn them in.”
Gun rights advocates who’ve pronounced a federal assault weapons ban and mag cap laws dead in the water better be right. Otherwise, out west at least, there will be hell to pay. Otherwise there could well be another Ruby Ridge or another Waco. Or lots of them. Or worse.
And then what?