'There is nothing for me to enforce': Spokane Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich says that he can't enforce new gun control laws | News | Spokane | The Pacific Northwest Inlander

click to enlarge At a Feb. 1 press conference, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich effectively said that he won't enforce Initiative 1639, the gun control ballot initiative that voters passed last November, claiming that the initiative is unconstitutional and doesn't create laws that he needs to administer.The legislation — which passed with almost 60 percent of the vote — enacted enhanced background checks, waiting periods, and increased minimum-age requirements from 18 to 21 for purchasing semi-automatic "assault" rifles. It also created a felony penalty for people who don't lock up firearms.In front of reporters, Knezovich slammed the initiative as "unconstitutional" — he claimed that it won't withstand legal scrutiny at "either the state or federal level" — and vaguely written."In this law there is nothing for me to enforce so I'm not too concerned about it," he said. "Pretty hard for me to enforce something that is unconstitutional.""What would I enforce?" he went on to say. "I can't enforce something that I have no authority to enforce. There's nothing in this law for a sheriff to enforce."According to Kristen Ellingboe, a spokeswoman for the Alliance for Gun Responsibility — the organization that pushed I-1639 — only the law raising the purchasing age for semi-automatic rifles has gone into effect so far. The other components will become active on July 1 to "ensure that there is enough time to educate the public and law enforcement" about the initiative. When asked after the press conference whether he would enforce the initiative after the July 1 implementation date, Knezovich says: "If it’s unconstitutional, the answer is 'no.'"The statements come after a string of other sheriffs around Washington state have publicly declared that they won't enforce the new laws, including those in Klickitat and Ferry counties. The initiative passed with a

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