Gilmer County commissioners unanimously passed a resolution supporting the Second Amendment.
The resolution came as the board was presented with a resolution and an ordinance by a group asking the commissioners to make Gilmer County a Second Amendment Sanctuary.
Jason Williamson was the first to speak in favor of the resolution at the board’s regular meeting Feb. 13.
“There is a movement across America that is pro-actively fighting a major effort to dismantle and erode the Second Amendment to a point where we will soon have no chance in reversing the damage,” said Williamson. “And, eventually, in the near future start to resemble Canada, Australia, Britain and many other countries that once allowed citizens to own firearms freely.”
He urged commissioners to pass the resolution and to continue working on an ordinance.
Williamson submitted a petition with roughly 700 names in support of becoming a Second Amendment Sanctuary.
Joene DePlancke spoke in favor of the resolution as well. She asked those at the meeting to stand if they supported the Second Amendment. The majority of attendees, which filled up the jury room in the Gilmer County Courthouse, stood in favor of the Second Amendment.
At the board’s work session the day before, DePlancke was even more direct.
“This is making us a sanctuary county where our guns can’t be taken,” she said.
Citizens have the right to create a militia, but there would be no point without firearms, she said. She wanted the ordinance to make sure citizens had the right to create a militia.
Board Attorney David Clark said the right to create a militia was the citizen’s right, not the county’s.
“I keep forgetting that our board of commissioners, which I consider to be a conservative board, I should have stated it the other way, should you all become a problem, we can create a militia ... and will,” DePlancke said.
During the work session, the ordinance which was presented to commissioners came under scrutiny.
Post Commissioner Hubert Parker asked if the ordinance would stop county employees from performing background checks required by law.
There was some question which went around the room as to whether the ordinance would eliminate permits for people carrying firearms in Gilmer County.
DePlancke was unsure. She said she liked permits, although she knew some people were against them.
She offered to rewrite the ordinance.
In the end, Clark said he would not endorse adopting the ordinance as written. He said he could not rewrite the ordinance with the proper language and have it ready for the next night’s meeting. He said he could have a resolution ready.
In the end, the board went with a resolution.
“I do think making the statement is important,” Post Commissioner Karleen Ferguson said.
Covering three pages, the resolution meanders in support of the Second Amendment. It even seems to contradict itself. At one point, the resolution cites Heller — a U.S. Supreme Court decision which struck down some gun regulations, but upheld the right of the government to regulate firearms — then in another paragraph says the county is against any regulation on firearms except for convicted felons.
It says the county will not enforce any unconstitutional laws dealing with the Second Amendment.
Commissioners question the need to have the word sanctuary involved in the resolution and it does not appear.
A resolution is used to express the board’s policy, whereas an ordinance has the effect of dictating specific actions.
Following the vote on the resolution, Chairman Charlie Paris addressed the assembled crowd.
“We hope to see our county in red on the next map,” he said.