(KNZA)--It was last week, following raging public debate regarding guns that erupted after the December Newtown, Connecticut tragedy, that President Barack Obama signed 23 executive orders pertaining to gun control. 

The debate, which continues to rage, has drawn response from law enforcement agencies across the nation, and what role County Sheriff's have in the matter. 

In the state of Kansas, Johnson County Sheriff Frank Denning has been vocal on where he stands.  Saying he was “heartbroken by the senseless act of criminal violence by an obviously deranged individual,” Denning  nonetheless moved forward with his views of gun control, and how that action plays into such shootings. 

He released a lengthy statement that says, in part:  “Reading the proposed changes and suggestions for future legislation from Washington, I see nothing whatsoever that would have prevented these past atrocities from occurring, nor do they pretend to effectively prevent future incidents from happening.” 

Now, we are reaching out to Sheriff's in our local counties for their thoughts. 

Transcribed from our “Special Report” interview with Brown County Sheriff John Merchant: 

There's been a lot of concern, not only with the folks in our own county but we've also had a lot of concern throughout the United States, and I've had the opportunity to talk with a lot of law enforcement officials throughout the United States, and we have to get down to what the job and the powers of the sheriff are. 

A lot of our responsibility is upholding the Constitution of the United States and also the Constitution of the State of Kansas.

The 2nd Amendment of the Constitution of United States states that a well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people, to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.  If you couple that with state statute 19-805B, which reads “when so directed by the Sheriff, shall....call upon and deputize any other peace officer, or private citizen, to assist such special deputy....,” it becomes clear that without (private citizens) being armed, they couldn't do us a whole lot of good. 

I have to protect the rights of the citizens of Brown County.  There have been incidents where the federal government has tried to come in and do things in the way they shouldn't have done them, and the sheriff does have the obligation to stand up and protect the people within his jurisdiction. 

Merchant, during the interview, said being proactive against incidents of violence in schools, or elsewhere, is the best deterrent, as guns will always be prevalent.  He does, however, support some regulations, such as those pertaining to gun shows. 

Jackson County Sheriff Tim Morse provided the following written statement: 

I have taken an oath to uphold the Constitution.  I fully support our constitution and the second amendment.  While it is not the duty of the Sheriff to legislate or create laws, it is the duty of the sheriff to enforce the law.   Unfortunately criminals will always have guns and will use guns on innocent people regardless of the law.  It is my opinion of laws that restrict gun owners will only restrict law abiding citizens and will have no bearing on what criminals will do or won’t do.  I support what the U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom of the District of Kansas is doing in putting those who commit crimes with firearms away in federal prison.  This is what I think the federal government should do instead of creating more legislation.