Actually, the are supposed to take a version of the oath as well. It's required in the Constitution itself, Art. V 3rd paragraph
The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the Members of the several State Legislatures, and all executive and judicial Officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be bound by Oath or Affirmation, to support this Constitution; but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.
The worst thing about local police is that they, unlike sherrif's deputies, don't report to an elected official in most cases. They report to an appointed Chief of Police. Who appoints the CoP varies from the mayor, to the city council, to the city manager, who in turn is not an elected official.
Thanks.
I had lost sight of the fact that the oath which law enforcement officers are required to take is mandated by the US Constitution.
This mechanism assures that unConstitutional decisions by our Supreme Court will do maximum damage to the Republic. Not only the BATFE but local police will consider themselves completely legitimate in enforcing firearms prohibitions.
Sheriff Mack, of Arizona at the time, I believe, chose to challenge aspects of the Brady Law which required his locale to spend money enforcing a federal law. He was upheld, I think, just prior to the time that the NICS came on line.
This means that the federal government is allowed to infringe my right to keep and bear arms as long as it is willing to pay the law enforcement costs or force me to pay them.