Oklahoma County Sheriff John Whetsel spoke today to members of the High Noon Club at H&H Shooting Sports in Oklahoma City. During the open forum metting Sheriff Whetsel issued a statement (which you can read in its entirety below) before taking part in a Q&A session with those in attendance. What stood out the most during his statement was the sentence regarding firearms confiscation.
“… The Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office will not participate in any confiscation of firearms.”
The sheriff also adressed some of the slanderous statements that had been made about him during the previous campaign for his re-election. The following is Sheriff Whetsel’s statement that he read during his speech today at H&H
In my last re-election campaign, which I won November 6, 2012, with 65% of the vote and a margin of nearly 75,000 votes, there was total disregard for the truth by the campaign waged against me. The liars continue to spout their lies and venom. Unlike their lies, here is the truth.
I am a professional law enforcement officer who has always believed the office of Sheriff is not political and should be nonpartisan.
I am in my 45th year of law enforcement service for our citizens and I am in my fifth term as Sheriff. At the beginning of each job and each term, I take and swear an oath of obey and defend the laws and the Constitution of Oklahoma and of the United States. That oath is a matter of public record and is filed with the Oklahoma County Clerk’s Office. For 45 years I have honored and kept my oath and have honorably served the citizens.
I am a member of the National Sheriffs’ Association which is a professional organization with over 3,000 members that is on record supporting the Constitution and the Second Amendment.
I personally believe we have plenty of laws regulating firearms and that we should enforce the laws we have. I see a strong need to enhance the ability to access mental health records as part of the background checks. I am a strong defender of the Constitution and the Second Amendment as well as the other 26 amendments. I am a life member of both the National Rifle Association and the Oklahoma Rifle Association. My re-election was endorsed by the ORA. I was honored as ORA Officer of the Year in 1998 and 2011. I am and have been a strong supporter of the right to own, bear and carry firearms, and I am a consistent annual sponsor of and attend Friends of the NRA events.
I tell you the above so you can understand that the citizens of Oklahoma County will remain safe and secure under my watch and not have to worry about outside intrusion or interference with their rights.
Although Executive Orders do not pertain to local officials, the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office will not participate in any confiscation of firearms.
I also believe in the First Amendment and the right and freedom of people to express differing views and opinions and have open dialog without being vilified (what a novel idea).
I am tired of the slander! Now, when you hear someone spread their lies about me or my beliefs, you can call them what they are – liars!
John Whetsel
