Douglas County Sheriff John Hanlin addresses the media following a deadly shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore., Oct. 1, 2015.(Photo: Jeff Barnard, AP)
The Oregon sheriff at the center of the local investigation into Thursday's mass shooting that left 10 dead at a community college has been a vociferous opponent of gun control legislation, saying he would even refuse to enforce such restrictions.
Douglas County sheriff John Hanlin was one of hundreds of sheriffs around the country who in 2013 vowed to stand against new gun control legislation. In a letter to Vice President Joe Biden, he wrote that "any actions against, or in disregard for our U.S. Constitution and 2nd Amendment . . . would be irresponsible and an indisputable insult to the American people."
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Hanlin wrote the letter after the shooting at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school that left 20 children and six staff members dead.
He wrote that he and his deputies would refuse to enforce new gun-control restrictions "offending the constitutional rights of my citizens."
"It is my position as sheriff of Douglas County, Oregon, that I will refuse to participate in, nor tolerate enforcement actions against citizens that are deemed unconstitutional," he told Biden.
Hanlin registered his opposition this year as state lawmakers considered requiring background checks on private, person-to-person gun sales.
Hanlin told a legislative committee in March that a background-check mandate wouldn't prevent criminals from getting firearms.
He said the state should combat gun violence by cracking down on convicted criminals found with guns, and by addressing people with unmanaged mental health issues.
At an evening press conference following Thursday's shootings at Umpqua Community College in southern Oregon, Hanlin told the media that he would never utter the name of the killer and he urged reporters not to publish the<span style="color: Red;">*</span>name of the gunman. A law enforcement official identified the killer to USA TODAY as Chris Mercer, 26.
"I will not give him the credit he probably sought prior to this horrific and cowardly act,"<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Hanlin said. "You will never hear me mention his name. He in no way deserves" any notoriety.
CONTRIBUTING: Associated Press
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