Indiana police chief: ‘We will never take your weapons’

WOODBURN, Ind. (WANE) — The chief of the Woodburn Police Department pledged to never take away city residents’ guns in the improbable event martial law would be declared.

In a Facebook post late Monday, Chief Randall Duhamell posted on the Woodburn Police Department’s Facebook page that his department has fielded requests for information about martial law.

“LET ME BE CLEAR….We Will NEVER take your weapons…no matter who tells us too!” Duhamell wrote in the post.

“All of our officers swore an oath to protect our community against all enemies. We may use those citizens that legally carry as helpers in times of emergency.”

As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, the post was shared more than 1,500 times.

Duhamell did not explain why his residents were worried about the declaration of martial law. Under martial law, the federal government’s three branches would have their powers pulled and the constitutional rights of citizens would be suspended. Military involvement in domestic law enforcement is forbidden in the United States without congressional approval, however.

Still, Duhamell said he was compelled to respond to the fears of his citizens.

“We will never come and take your guns from your house or your vehicles,” the chief told WISH-TV’s sister station WANE in an interview. “That’s not what we’re about, and I just wanted to share that with the community and let them know that we support the Second Amendment.”