May 07, 2013 11:48 AM UTC

Weld County Sheriff Cooke won't arrest federal agents

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• by: Jason Salzman

(Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Last month I reported that Larry Pratt, Director of Gun Owners of America, praised Weld Country Sheriff John Cooke for his opposition to gun safety legislation.

On KFKA's Scooter McGee show, Pratt said some 400 sheriffs in the U.S. are promising not to enforce gun-safety laws, like Colorado's new statute expanding background checks.

Pratt also said some sheriffs have vowed to arrest federal agents whom sheriffs believe are violating the U.S. Constitution.

Pratt said on the radio that some "sheriffs are saying, 'Not only will I not cooperate, but if the Feds are doing something unconstitutional in my county, particularly a gun grab, I’ll put them in jail.'"

It wasn't clear whether Cooke was among the sheriffs who are ready to arrest the feds, so I called to find out.

"The state gun laws are unenforceable, and I won’t enforce them," he said. "I’d rather go after drug dealers, burglars, and rapists."

But Cook said he wouldn't actually arrest federal agents in Weld County, even if he thinks they're enforcing unconstitutional laws, like federal gun safety statutes.

"I’m not going to arrest a federal agent," he said. "No, I’m not going to go that far."