Citizens of Cobb County, The recent tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut has broken the hearts of millions of Americans and

surfaced the need and demand to address violent criminal activity more aggressively from a federal level, all the way to local enforcement that maintains a safe environment, not only for our children, but all citizens. As your Sheriff, that has and always will be my personal and professional goal. I take my oath as a Georgia Constitutional Officer seriously and will absolutely uphold the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Georgia, as well enforce State laws that serve and protect our community. In the past few weeks, there has been an enormous amount of dialogue about guns, ammunition and legal possession of firearms. My strong support for the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution began well before my 37 year career with the Cobb County Sheriffs Office. The principles contained in this amendment support the other rights and liberties guaranteed by our Constitution. Recently there has been a great deal of confusion and misinformation about the purpose of the 2nd Amendment. It is not, as some say, about hunting, target practice or even the right to own a gun collection. It is a reflection of our Founding Fathers very real understanding that no rights would be safe without the citizens having the means to defend and protect those rights. These same individuals had just fought a war against a repressive government to achieve their freedom. They knew very well what was required to maintain that freedom. Without average citizens owning firearms and having the skill to use them, the Lexington and Concord minutemen could not have fired the shot heard around the world. Likewise, throughout our history, the skill and ability of average citizens to use a firearm has played a critical role in personal and collective safety. Over the years, I have had many discussions with individuals, liberal and some not so liberal, who were against the right to bear arms for a number of reasons. The argument most often repeated is the belief that to be against violence, you must oppose gun ownership. My response is quite simple. Guns are not the problem. The real problem facing our society is the erosion of family and moral structure that in turn leads to increased criminal activity with and without guns. Until we face the real problems that plague our society and quit seeking the quick and often political fix that shadow the real issues, the problems will continue to increase. I consider it a privilege, as well as a sacred trust, to have been elected Sheriff by the citizens of Cobb County. When I took office, I swore an oath to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States and the State of Georgia a responsibility that I take very seriously. You can be assured that my deputies and I, to the fullest extent of our ability and

authority, will protect and defend the legal and constitutional rights of the citizens of Cobb County. The basic premise underlying all of our constitutional rights is that if one can be abridged, all are in jeopardy. In our American government, Congress and State legislatures make laws, while courts interpret those laws and determine whether they pass constitutional muster. Although the President has the authority to issue Executive Orders, that authority is limited. Our Constitution delegates three branches that must balance to maintain the freedom and quality of our life Executive, Legislative and Judicial. It is profoundly disappointing that many prominent leaders in our country have chosen to capitalize on the horrendous murder of innocent children to advance their political agenda of infringing on the right of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms. Clearly this rush to implement new gun control regulations has been undertaken as a matter of political expediency. There has been little meaningful thought given to measures which might actually have an impact on violent crime. It is still too early to tell whether the recent gun control measures proposed by the President will be passed by Congress or what impact his executive orders may have on our citizens. The previous Assault Weapons Ban was part of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. The ban did little, if anything, to curb violent crime and made meaningless distinctions between banned and non-banned firearms. Since the ban expired in 2004, the U. S. Supreme Court held that the 2nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides for a personal right to keep and bear arms. This 2008 case District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 U.S. 570 - provides guidance and an interpretation of the U.S. Constitution that was not available in 1994 when the ban was passed. I believe this decision must be carefully considered before Congress or any other legislative body attempts to limit any rights of law abiding citizens to purchase and possess firearms. I firmly believe that at this critical point in our history, each of us must stand up and speak up by contacting our elected officials, including the President, to encourage them to act decisively to uphold the rights guaranteed all Americans by our Constitution. For my part, I intend to fully exercise the power and authority vested in me by my oath of office as Sheriff of Cobb County. I will insure that the rights of our citizens, as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of Georgia, are protected from government encroachment. It is my firm commitment to immediately challenge and seek injunctive relief from any statute or executive action which violates the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the citizens of Cobb County. So Help Me God - Sheriff Neil Warren.