On Christmas Eve, Bonner County. Idaho, commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution “calling on the governor and state lawmakers enhance protections for the right to bear arms.”
As reported in the Bonner County Dailey Bee, “The resolution is patterned after a model resolution the Idaho Republican Party is urging all 44 counties to adopt.”
From the Idaho Republican Party State Central Committee – BE IT RESOLVED THAT, The Bonner County Republican Central Committee strongly urges the Bonner County Commissioners to enact the following Ordinance following the example of the Founders and many States, Sheriffs and local jurisdictions throughout the United States to wit:
SECTION 2: PROHIBITION ON FEDERAL INFRINGEMENT OF THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS
A. The Bonner County Board of Commissioners declares that all federal acts, laws, orders, rules, regulations – past, present or future – which prohibitively restrict the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States are not authorized by the Constitution of the United States and violate its true meaning and intent as given by the Founders and Ratifiers, and are hereby declared to be invalid in this county, shall not be recognized by this county, are specifically rejected by this county, and shall be considered null and void and of no effect in this county.B. It shall be the duty of the Sheriff of this County to take such measures as may be necessary to prevent the enforcement of any federal acts, laws, orders, rules, or regulations which violate the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.
County Sheriff Daryl Wheeler says he is a strong support of the Second Amendment, but the county board recognized that they do not have the authority to direct the sheriff to take any action and left the language requiring the sheriff to take measures to stop federal enforcement of unconstitutional gun laws out of their draft of the resolution.
Commissioners Cary Kelly, Glen Bailey and Mike Nielsen, realizing their limited authority, but asserting their responsibility to represent the residents of their county, say they are sending a copy of the resolution to Gov. C.L. Butch Otter and state lawmakers. Not looking to just make a statement in favor of gun rights, they want the state “to enact a statute that makes it a felony offense for a governmental authority to intentionally and knowingly violate rights protected under the Second Amendment.”
“That’s what we’ve given here in what we feel is the best manner, which is to kick it up to the state legislature and to the state of Idaho to take appropriate action,” board chair Kelly told the Daily Bee.
This is a strong first step. Next, the county should pass an ordinance prohibiting cooperation with any federal efforts to enforce acts violating the Second Amendment. The feds count on cooperation from state and local governments. Take that away, and the federal government would find it nearly impossible to enforce unconstitutional gun laws, as Judge Napolitano has said.
ACTION ITEMS
Encourage your local government to pass a Second Amendment Preservation ordinance. You can find model legislation HERE.
To track efforts to protect the Second Amendment across the U.S., click HERE.
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