PINE CITY — A Minnesota sheriff says he would refuse to enforce any new state or federal regulation that restricts guns.

Pine County Sheriff Robin Cole sent an open letter to residents this week, saying he doesn’t believe the federal government has a right to order states to follow mandates that violate the U.S. Constitution.

Cole wrote that he would view any such mandate illegal and refuse to carry it out. He said he believes it is a “moral sin” to erode freedom through administrative rules.

Cole said on Wednesday that he is categorically opposed to any proposal that would infringe on one’s constitutional rights. He said he wrote the letter because citizens have been afraid of what the future holds.

He says the issue doesn’t apply to just guns.