A Maryland sheriff claims that the state’s new gun control law is unconstitutional and calls for county officials to support selective enforcement of the measure.
According to the Cumberland Times News, Garret County Sheriff Robert Corley expressed his discontent with the law at Tuesday’s county commissioners meeting, and offered a draft that would protect citizens’ rights.
Corley said that he believes that the Maryland Firearms Safety Act violates the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution that clearly states, ‘The right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed,’”The law set to take effect Oct. 1 is about to present Maryland with one of the toughest gun restrictions, which the National Rifle Association intends to challenge in court. The most notorious parts are those that require future owners to submit fingerprints before they can be issued a licence to buy a handgun and ban 45 guns and limit the capacity of gun magazines to 10 rounds. It also bans gun ownership by people who have been involuntarily committed to a mental health facility.
On the other hand, H. Scott Curtis, chief counsel to the attorney general’s office of courts and judicial affairs told The Baltimore Sun that sheriffs are sworn to enforce state laws.
“They have to consider the oath that they took when they took office and that is an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States, the constitution of Maryland and Maryland’s laws,” Curtis told the paper.
Corley says the resolution resembles resolutions in Carroll and Cecil counties that state the law infringes Second Amendment rights. Two commissioners supported the resolution and Commissioner Jim Raley suggested soliciting citizen input and a review by legal counsel.
“Thanks for taking a stance. It’s an emotional issue. I am disappointed in the attorney general’s stance,” Raley said. Corley said that he will enforce the law as he sees fit. “I’m not asking for your blessing,” Corley said. “I’m asking for your support.”
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