The Missouri Sheriffs certainly wear pink panties.  This time, it’s the Greenville County Sheriff, Hobart Lewis.

GREENVILLE — Months after Greenville County Council passed an ordinance proclaiming the county a Second Amendment sanctuary, the issue came back before the council Jan. 20 as frustrated gun owners said the law hadn’t gone far enough in its punishments.

The ordinance restricts the use of county tax revenue and resources to enforce any potential future federal gun restrictions.

A group, many wearing orange “Guns Save Lives” stickers, attended the council meeting after social media calls by the nonprofit, locally-organized United Patriots Alliance said residents’ rights to keep and bear arms were in danger because the council removed criminal penalties from the version of the ordinance it passed in September 2021.

That ordinance was championed by the same group and brought to the council by Councilman Steve Shaw, a gun law attorney. Shaw modified the ordinance to remove the criminal penalties and focus solely on financial implications after Attorney General Alan Wilson’s office issued an opinion on a similar ordinance considered in Aiken County.

The attorney general’s opinion issued in August 2021 said the state legislature “covers the field” on the regulation of firearms and his office expected attempts by counties to regulate firearms would not be upheld if challenged in court.

At the time, Greenville County Sheriff Hobart Lewis also said he was concerned about criminal penalties that could snag sheriff’s deputies who unknowingly went against the county ordinance. But Councilman Joe Dill, who reintroduced criminal penalties in an amendment the council will consider, said the county either needs to have a penalty for breaking its ordinance or it should do away with it entirely.

“I think it will stand up,” Dill said. “I don’t think there’s a judge that will say you’re overstepping your bounds.”

If the amendment passes, it would add penalties of up to 30 days in jail and up to a $500 fine to anyone who violates the ordinance.

Councilman Lynn Ballard said he still has questions about who the ordinance would target and how it would be enforced.

Dill said that would include anyone who comes on a resident’s property and tries to confiscate a weapon. That could include the arrest of federal officers or those designated to enforce possible future gun rights restrictions, he said.

Residents who spoke Jan. 20 questioned whether Republican members of the council were conservative enough. Speakers included a pair of candidates who have announced plans to run for the Republican nomination for the U.S. House District 4 seat, including Michael LaPierre and Mark Burns.

Questions posed, so questions answered.

Will it hold up in court?  It doesn’t matter.  Anyone who asks that question doesn’t understand what’s happening here.  You don’t ask.  You don’t go to court.  You enforce the statute.  Screw the judges.

Who enforces it?  The Sheriff enforces it.  If it’s one of his own, he should have trained them better.  He has to put his own deputy in jail.  Period.

Are those punishments severe enough?  No.

Is it really possible that a deputy or city cop “unknowingly” goes against the ordinance?  No, not unless you’re a kindergartener.  This should be easy enough.  Find out who’s on the other end of the phone.  If it’s an agent of the FedGov, threaten to arrest them if they come into your county.

I’m glad I could help solve these problems for you.