Smith County Sheriff speaks out about gun control

TYLER, TX (KLTV) - Grassroots America - We the People is hosting a national gun appreciation day event on Saturday in Tyler.

Organizers say the event is being put on to support East Texans' Second Amendment rights.

Smith County Sheriff Larry Smith will speak at the event along with State Senator Kevin Eltife, State Representative Matt Shaefer and U.S. Senator Ted Cruz's East Texas Director Jason Wright.

Sheriff Smith worked for the Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (or ATF) for many years and says that experience taught him a lot about gun control and respect for guns.

He believes all 50 states have different needs and different types of problems concerning firearms.

Sheriff Smith says the only way to control those problems, and meet those needs, is by letting each individual state enforce their own gun laws.

"Each state is different on their need or whatever for firearms. In other words, if you've got a farmer here in East Texas that is having a problem with coyotes with their farm animals I don't see anything wrong with using at A-R 15 to control that problem. You wouldn't have the same problem in downtown New York," Sheriff Smith says.

Sheriff Smith also says he will not enforce an unconstitutional law that takes away firearms from law abiding citizens in Smith County.

"I will not enforce an unconstitutional law against any citizen in Smith County. It just won't happen."

Sheriff Smith says he will talk more about gun control and gun appreciation when he speaks at Saturday's event.

Grassroots America is asking people to meet in front of Lock and Load Indoor Shooting Range in Tyler at 10 o'clock on Saturday morning.

Copies of the constitution will be passed out and, after attendees hear from the speakers, the group will head over to the Loan Star Gun Show at the Harvey Convention Center in Tyler.

Copyright 2013 KLTV. All rights reserved.