Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson (Joe Kline/Bulletin file photo)

Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson issued a public statement Friday morning opposing a citizen initiative to ban assault weapons in Oregon.

Nelson, who’s been in office since 2015, left town shortly after the statement was issued. Sheriff’s office spokesman Sgt. William Bailey published the message on Twitter and Facebook, he said.

Initiative Petition 43 would prohibit the sale or transfer of “assault rifles,” which are defined at length in the initiative language, and large-capacity magazines (those that hold more than 10 rounds) starting Jan. 1, 2019.

The interfaith coalition behind the initiative must collect 88,184 signatures by July 6 to qualify for the November ballot.

In his statement, Nelson defends lawful gun ownership and mentions the gun laws Oregon has on the books, including prohibitions against gun sales to felons and those who have been committed for mental health reasons.

“I support and defend the Second Amendment and oppose IP 43,” wrote Nelson.

The online response to the statement was primarily positive. By noon, Nelson’s Facebook post had received hundreds of likes, shares and supportive comments, many from people who live out of the area.

“THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP FOR YOUR CITIZENS!!!!” commenter Jeralyn Wyatt said.

“You can now count on my vote 100%,” Jeff Wilcox wrote.

The statement was similar to one on April 1 by Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Adkins.

Adkins did not return a phone message. Crook County Sheriff John Gautney was not working Friday.

As elected officials, sheriffs are allowed to use their official seal and uniform when making public statements, and they can advocate political positions. But sheriffs’ staff members and other public employees are not permitted to use their time on duty to oppose or support political causes, according to Oregon ethics law. Further, elected officials may not, in the role of a supervisor, ask a public employee to perform any political activity, according to the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office.

Reached Friday afternoon, Nelson defended having Bailey push the button to send out his message.

“That message was from me,” he said. “That is my voice, my word, and there is nothing else wrong with that. The key here is that I work directly for the people, and I am on duty 24/7.”

If IP 43 were to become the law, he would have to honor it, he said Friday.

“The sheriff will enforce Oregon law and will work through appropriate channels, like the Oregon State Sheriff’s Association, to address unconstitutional laws,” he said.

IP 43 isn’t about taking away Second Amendment rights, said Mark Knutson, chief petitioner of IP 43 and a Lutheran minister from Portland. “This is about weapons of war we’ve made so accessible, and primarily, this is about our youth.”

Knutson said his coalition includes veterans from all branches of the military and many young people moved to act following the recent school massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

He said seven states and Washington, D.C., have passed similar laws.

Knutson said his coalition is running a “high-road campaign” and said he didn’t want to disparage Nelson or other opponents of IP 43.

“As faith leaders, we love those who oppose,” he said.

— Reporter: 541-383-0325, gandrews@bendbulletin.com