You hear a lot about how police officers have to be allowed to shoot first and ask questions later because it’s so dangerous for them on the streets. But many of them are against gun safety laws which seem counter-intuitive. Some are going so far as to refuse to enforce them: Law enforcement’s reaction to the recent assault weapons law approved by Gov. JB Pritzker has been largely negative, with many sheriffs saying they believe the law is illegal. More than 80 sheriffs, including those in Peoria, Woodford and Tazewell counties, have said they will not ask those with a valid Firearm Owners Identification card to register their weapons as required by the law. Others have gone further, saying they will not arrest people “solely for noncompliance with the act.” But can a sheriff refuse to enforce a law? Is it legal for a sheriff to decide what laws are legal, or is that the purview of the courts? The Illinois Constitution establishes the office of the sheriff and states that, in addition to duties and powers provided by ordinance, they also have the “duties, powers or functions derived from common law or historical precedent unless altered by law or county ordinance.” That doesn’t sound like discretion to me but what do I know? These sheriffs aren’t the only ones who refuse to enforce gun laws. Meanwhile,, the right is challenging the long established norm of prosecutorial discretion – at least when it comes to criminalizing abortion: GOP lawmakers see a major flaw in…