2nd Amendment Sanctuary Resolution Gets Mixed Reception

HARRISON – Also addressing the BOC Feb. 17 was Gordy Mason, who requested the BOC adopt a resolution to make Clare County a Second Amendment Sanctuary. He said the movement of Second Amendment sanctuaries was gaining popularity around the country, with counties adopting resolutions and ordinances. He even said some states are considering it, adding that three states are proposing a law so that their individual states are not bound to obey or enforce federal laws that are done by executive order.

“I see one state is even attempting to pass a bill allowing their state law enforcement to arrest any federal agent attempting to violate the Second Amendment,” he said, adding the reason for that is that so many people are afraid their Second Amendment rights will be taken away or violated. “I’m quite passionate about it because it’s such an important part of our history. It’s not about our forefathers coming back from a hunting trip, it’s about them defending their rights against tyrannical government. It’s about our inherent right to own and possess a firearm to protect ourselves and our family. It’s about a person being put in a situation where they need to defend themselves, without becoming a criminal in the process.”

He said some of the laws being presented today are doing just that.

“There was something presented over the weekend that really doesn’t look good,” Mason said. “It’s so important that we do this. It’s so important when a person enlists in the service and takes the oath of office to defend the Constitution, and it would be very easy to give up this right by turning a blind eye or vote, and you’ll never get it back.”

He said he was before the board to reaffirm its support that this county would never under any circumstances enforce any laws that are contrary to the idea.

When commissioner Sandra Bristol asked if Mason was worried his guns would be taken away, he said there was a plan proposed over the weekend to do just that, and that to do so, in his opinion, would violate the Second Amendment.

Bristol then asked who proposed the plan, and Mason said he did not want to be political, but that President Biden had “proposed some things,” and more specifically “to take away all our semi-automatic firearms, no shotguns larger than a .410,” and that he didn’t remember all of it.

When Bristol then asked “Where did you get that information?” Mason replied, “I read an article.” He did not cite the source of the article.

Then commissioner comments began, starting with: “Now it’s getting crazy.”

“I don’t think it’s physically possible to take away our guns,” said Bristol. “I think financially, logistically, the Second Amendment is good enough. No other administration has tried to take guns away.”

“I think in order to change a Constitutional Amendment, it’s got to be done through Congress,” said board vice chair Dale Majewski. “And it can’t be done by executive order. I know there’s as many gun-toting Democrats as there are Republicans, and we all own the same guns. And I just don’t see something like that coming through our Congress – whether it’s a Democrat-controlled or definitely not a Republican-controlled Congress.”

Haskell said that, obviously, whatever Congress passes is a law, and the resolution would not supersede that or anything else but would simply show support that people in this area believe in the Second Amendment. He suggested it could be talked about until the next board meeting.

Majewski urged caution in what documents the county observes.

“I don’t believe there’s anybody who doesn’t believe in the Second Amendment,” he said.

Haskell then informed Mason that the board would take his document and make a decision on it at the next meeting.

Mason reiterated that he believed the resolution was just a reaffirmation of the Second Amendment.

Bristol said she thought it was fear mongering.

Majewski suggested the board needed to find out the court legalities, and whether it would stand up if the county signed it, and that it really needed to be researched prior to signing. It was decided the resolution should be forwarded to the county prosecutor for an opinion, and also that the sheriff’s input should be sought, as well.

“We had a sheriff that said he wasn’t going to enforce certain executive orders of the governor,” Majewski said.

“And if he did decide to enforce some sort of ‘taking your guns away,’ how would he pull that off?” Bristol said. “And even if he decided he would do that – which he never would, I’m sure – the minute I heard that, I’d take my .22 and bury it in the backyard. Even on a national level, what are they going to do, send in the army and the Air Force? Go door to door? I don’t think it can be done.”

Mason agreed, saying he didn’t think it could be done either, repeating that the resolution is a reaffirmation.