The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a carefully-worded resolution declaring the county a Second Amendment Sanctuary in Tuesday’s meeting.
The resolution was introduced by Lawrence Township trustee Larry Pernestti last week. County Commission President DeAnna Holliday said the board sent the resolution to County Prosecutor Brigham Anderson for review and he returned an edited version that was in compliance with Ohio law.
According to Holliday, “It is always the desire of this board to abide by Ohio law, ordinances, and statutes.” She said that literally thousands of residents had requested Lawrence County adopt a Second Amendment Sanctuary resolution. Typically, communities that adopt Second Amendment Sanctuary resolutions pledge not to enforce laws violate the Second Amendment, though it generally isn’t made clear who determines which laws fall under that heading.
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Holliday declared the resolution to be “Non-binding but hugely symbolic resolution proclaiming Lawrence County Ohio a Sanctuary for gun ownership and possession and we do take this request seriously.”
The resolution stated in part that Lawrence County would “Direct the law enforcement and employees of Lawrence County to not enforce any law that has been deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Ohio or the United States.”
Commissioner Colton Copley said, “I’m proud to sit on the Lawrence County Commission that is protecting our citizens’ constitutional rights to bear arms.”
He also thanked Larry Pernsetti for working to introduce the resolution.
Commissioner Freddie Hayes addressed criticism that taxpayer money was being used to work on a largely symbolic resolution.
“It doesn’t cost any money to do this. There is no cost to the taxpayer to do this.”
Some commenters on social media expressed dismay that the resolution is non-binding.
County Commissions in Ohio are only empowered to address specific matters, mostly relating to funding, zoning, and economic development. They cannot pass legislation and are forbidden from violating Ohio law.
Here is the wording of the 2A Sanctuary Resolution passed in Lawrence County today.
Whereas the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners wishes to express its intention to stand as a sanctuary county for Second Amendment rights and to oppose within the limits of the Constitution of the United States and the State of Ohio any efforts to unconstitutionally restrict such rights and to use such legal means at its disposal to protect the rights of citizens of Lawrence County to keep and bear arms including legal action, the power to appropriate public funds, the right to petition for redress of grievances, and the power to direct the law enforcement and employees of Lawrence County to not enforce any law that has been deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Ohio or the United States… Now, therefore, let it be resolved by the Board of Commissioners of Lawrence County Ohio, that the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners hereby declares Lawrence County Ohio as a Second Amendment Sanctuary and that the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners hereby expresses its intent to uphold the Second Amendment rights of the citizens of Lawrence County, Ohio. And that the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners declares its intent that public funds of the County are not to be used to restrict the Second Amendment rights of the citizens of Lawrence County or to aid federal or state agencies in the restriction of said rights unless required by law. And that the Lawrence County Board of Commissioners hereby declares its intent to oppose any unlawful infringement of the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms using such legal means as may be expedient, including without limitation, court action.
