Ohio sheriff warns Obama on gun control

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FINDLAY, Ohio, Feb. 5 (UPI) -- The sheriff of Hancock County, Ohio, has told President Barack Obama "any so-called federal law" infringing gun rights "will not be tolerated" in his county.

Sheriff Michael Heldman, in a letter to the president Friday, said he would ensure "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."

"It has come to my attention that you and some of your administration believe that the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States is up for your personal interpretation, and that there is a movement under way 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," Heldman wrote.

"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," the sheriff told the president.

Heldman said Sunday he was conflicted about proposals to limit ownership of military-style assault weapons, The (Findlay, Ohio) Courier reported Monday. Heldman acknowledged restricting ownership of such weapons could keep them out of the hands of dangerous people but he said it would also deprive law-abiding citizens of their Second Amendment rights, the newspaper said.