A Second Amendment Foundation representative explains why the actions by DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick speak volumes.
Earlier this month, Illinois passed a wide ban on semi-automatic rifles and a certain style of magazines. Ever since, several gun rights groups, along with private citizens, have voiced their opinion, stating the law is unconstitutional.
However, it’s when one of Illinois’ own law enforcement officers decided to step up and explain why he won’t be enforcing the law, despite pressure from the legislature to do so.
According to Fox News, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick explained why he refused to enforce the gun oath law, among many others, believe that HB 5471 is a clear violation of the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution.” Furthermore, he noted his refusal to apprehend “law-abiding individuals that have been arrested solely with non-compliance of this Act.”
“Part of my duties that I accepted upon being sworn into office was to protect the rights provided to all of us, in the Constitution. One of those enumerated rights is the right of the people to keep and bear arms provided under the 2nd Amendment.”
Democratic Representative for the state, Sean Casten, expressed concern over Mendrick’s choice, stating his “actions are going to make future mass shootings more likely.” But is that the case?
With us now to discuss Mendrick’s actions is a representative from the Second Amendment Foundation, a group that firmly believes in the right to bear arms, and continuously defends the rights of private gun owners.
Q&A:
- What do you think about Sheriff Mendrick’s actions as a whole? Do you believe he’s firmly in the right with his beliefs in the Constitution?
- Why do you think Casten and others are so adamant to enforce the law passed? Are they really that convinced that having this law in place will stop “active shooter” events?
- You’ve talked about the effectiveness of Concealed-Carry amongst select citizens here in the United States. Do you think that this is a better solution to “active shooter” events compared to outright gun bans?
- Where do you see actions towards this going over the next few months? Could other officers step up and refuse to enforce it, backing the Constitution instead? Could we see potential lawsuits stemming from this particular law?
- Could other states consider a gun ban as well? We know President Biden has been talking about it for a while now, though no action has been taken just yet.
- Where can we learn more about the Second Amendment Foundation and its members?
Those interested can visit http://www.saf.org/.
Second Amendment Foundation spokespersons available to be your guest:
ABOUT CHRIS CHENG (In Pacific Time)
Chris Cheng serves on the advisory council to the Second Amendment Foundation’s Board of Trustees. He is the History Channel’s Top Shot Season 4 Champion and author of the book “Shoot to Win.” Cheng is an Asian D&I advocate in the gun community; a former Google employee who went from self-taught amateur to pro shooter.
ABOUT CAM EDWARDS (In Eastern Time)
Cam Edwards is the editor at Bearing Arms-dot-com and hosts the popular podcast Cam & Company that focuses on Second Amendment news and information. Cam is originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and has worked in radio, television, and online media for over two decades. He currently lives on a small farm with his family near Farmville, Virginia, and is a member of the board of Citizens Committee to Keep and Bear Arms.
ABOUT MARK WALTERS (in Eastern Time):
Mark Walters is a member of the board of directors for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. As a nationally syndicated host of two talk radio programs, Armed American Radio and Armed American Radio’s Daily Defense, Mark is heard on hundreds of stations weekly across the country. Mark is the co-founder of Armed American News and the recipient of the 2015 “Gun Rights Defender of the Year award.” In addition, Mark Walters is co-author of three books, including Lessons from Armed America, Lessons from Unarmed America, and Grilling While Armed.
ABOUT LEE WILLIAMS (In Eastern Time)
Lee Williams is also known as The Gun Writer and has been writing about the Second Amendment, firearms, the firearms industry, and the gun culture for more than ten years. He is the Chief Editor of the Second Amendment Foundation’s Investigative Reporting Project and is a frequent contributor to Ammoland News and Armed American Radio. In addition, Lee serves as a board member of Florida Carry, Inc. He was also an editor for a daily newspaper in Florida. Before becoming a newspaper editor, Lee was an investigative reporter in three states and a U.S. Territory. Before becoming a journalist, he worked as a police officer. Before becoming a cop, Lee served in the Army. Lee has earned more than a dozen national journalism awards as a reporter and three medals of valor as a police officer.
ABOUT DAVE WORKMAN (In Pacific Time):
Dave Workman is an award-winning career journalist and senior editor of TheGunMag.com. He writes for Liberty Park Press, Conservative Firing Line, and is communications director for the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. He has authored Op-Ed pieces in several major newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Seattle Times, and Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and co-authored seven books with Second Amendment Foundation Alan Gottlieb. Workman’s beat is firearms, from politics to the outdoors. He is widely considered an authority on firearms, concealed carry, and gun politics.
The Second Amendment Foundation (www.saf.org) is the nation’s oldest and largest tax-exempt education, research, publishing, and legal action group focusing on the Constitutional right and heritage to privately own and possess firearms. Founded in 1974, The Foundation has grown to more than 700,000 members and supporters and conducts many programs designed to better inform the public about the consequences of gun control.
CONTACT: To schedule an interview, contact Jerry McGlothlin of Special Guests PR Agency at 919-437-0001 or jerry.specialguests@gmail.com
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