Cleveland's anti-gun sheriff resigns amidst scandal

The Cleveland Plain Dealer is reporting that Cuyahoga County Sheriff Gerald McFaul, a long-time opponent to gun rights in Ohio, has tendered his resignation after months of allegations about his misconduct in office.

McFaul has been under fire since the beginning of the year over questions of improper fund-raising activities, including having deputies sell tickets for his fund-raisers while on county time, for doing special favors for friends and relatives, and most recently for not reporting gifts he is reported to have accepted from employees.

The anti-gun Sheriff has long-been an anathema to Ohio gun owners. In 2004, McFaul had to be sued by Buckeye Firearms Association Chairman Jim Irvine before he would do his job and begin issuing Ohio concealed handgun licenses. He eventually settled the suit, and paid all court costs and attorney's fees (with taxpayer funds, of course).

A recent Plain Dealer report about charges of nepotism concerning the anti-concealed carry Sheriff highlighted the law man's hypocrisy on guns, revealing that he had once deputized his son so that he could get a job (which he couldn't otherwise have obtained) while carrying a firearm (which he couldn't otherwise have carried).

The resignation is effective on April Fool's Day, and fortunately this is not a joke.