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About a decade ago, there was a movement among some sheriffs to elevate themselves above their actual authority, calling themselves constitutional officers with additional powers and duties, Finer said.

The National Association of Sheriffs wrote an article at the time addressing the idea.

Lately, there has been much discussion about the Oath of Office taken by any elected sheriff and the legal significance of that oath of office, the article reads.

The article acknowledges sheriffs offices have unique duties because they are the only law enforcement agency that reports directly to an elected official, the sheriff, before saying sheriffs offices are bound by judicial review.

In short, an individual sheriffs oath of office does not contain any additional or unique language conferring special duties, powers or responsibilities on any Office of Sheriff, the article reads. As a result, an individual sheriffs oath of office is the same or identical oath of office conferred on and taken by all of these other public local, county and state officials.

Finer said he is concerned the signed letter tries to add additional powers.

The pledge adds new words to the job description, namely that sheriffs will do all in their power to steadfastly protect the Second Amendment from what or whom we need to protect the amendment goes unstated, Finer said. The pledges promise to use all power is new; this is not in the oath of any elected official. The sheriffs have added a special, new provision and they did so on their own.

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Washington sheriffs sign letter vowing to uphold Second Amendment, but some question their messaging - The Columbian