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CHEYENNE A Senate committee gave unanimous approval Wednesday to a bill aiming to protect Wyoming residents against potential federal overreach on gun regulations, despite some concerns from law enforcement officials regarding potential unintended effects of the legislation.

Titled the Second Amendment Preservation Act, Senate File 81 would deem invalid any federal laws or orders, including any gun taxes, confiscations, transfers or other regulations, that infringe on Wyoming residents ability to bear arms.

The bills primary sponsor, Sen. Anthony Bouchard, R-Cheyenne, explained to the Senate Judiciary Committee during its meeting Wednesday that his proposal was, in part, a response to the Biden administration taking over the countrys executive branch.

What were looking at here is the whole idea that we have a shift in Washington, and they actually want to use everything they can to go after our guns, Bouchard said.

The bill would also hold any law enforcement officer who knowingly deprives a Wyoming resident of their Second Amendment rights legally liable for such a violation, and it would remove qualified immunity, or protections that shield police and other government officials from lawsuits, under such violations included in the bill. That aspect of the bill drew significant concern from several law enforcement officials during the meeting Wednesday.

Law enforcement officials opposing the bill repeatedly emphasized their support for the Second Amendment and gun freedoms, but specific aspects of the bill gave them pause. Prior to the meeting, all 23 of Wyomings sheriffs had signed onto a letter raising concerns about the bill stripping qualified immunity under specific circumstances.

Sweetwater County Sheriff John Grossnickle told lawmakers that the qualified immunity portion of the bill would put Wyoming down the same path as those states of Washington and Oregon, in reference to states that have adopted tighter restrictions on law enforcement. The sheriff added that former President Donald Trump, who he described as one of the greatest supporters of law enforcement, would be opposed to such a measure.

The second half of this bill, which addresses law enforcement, contradicts everything that the former president stood for in regard to law enforcement, Grossnickle said. With that, I see that the hypocrisy of this bill actually knows no bounds, and, quite frankly, its a sad, sad day for law enforcement in the state of Wyoming if this bill proceeds the way it is.

Sheridan County Sheriff Allen Thompson recounted a recent case in a neighboring county in which some firearms were seized from fugitives, and the case was then turned over to federal entities for prosecution. Those instances are often beneficial to local law enforcement officials, Thompson said, as federal officials can take on cases that otherwise might be cost-prohibitive for local officials on their own.

What this bill does is really give a chilling effect to local law enforcement working at all with federal law enforcement, and, frankly, (it) would scare most officers and deputies into not seizing a firearm for any reason whatsoever, and sure as heck not talking to federal law enforcement about investigations, Thompson said.

Others questioned whether SF 81, which is similar to proposals enacted or being mulled in several other states, would be constitutional if enacted into law. Wyoming resident and attorney Linda Burt, who was a previous executive director of the ACLU of Wyoming, said the bill was absolutely unconstitutional, with substantial case law reaffirming that federal law takes precedence over state laws under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution.

During the meeting, Bouchard said he was opposed to broader efforts to repeal qualified immunity for law enforcement officials, calls that have grown among progressives following the wave of protests against police brutality that occurred last summer in the wake of the killing of George Floyd.

The Laramie County senator said he plans to introduce amendments to the bill that would shift the liability burden from individual officers to agencies for violations included in his bill, adding he would like to work with law enforcement officials to address their concerns. Bill co-sponsor Rep. Dan Laursen, R-Powell, said it was frustrating that the bill sponsors had reached out to sheriffs asking for amendments and received no response.

The bill was then advanced by members of the Senate Judiciary Committee by a 5-0 vote. Senate File 81 will now head to the Senate floor for further consideration and debate.

Tom Coulter is the Wyoming Tribune Eagles state government reporter. He can be reached at tcoulter@wyomingnews.com or 307-633-3124. Follow him on Twitter at @tomcoulter_.

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Second Amendment Preservation Act proposal advanced by legislative committee - Wyoming Tribune

SHAWANO, WI- The Shawano County Board will welcome in the community and take a vote on becoming a sanctuary county for the 2nd Amendment, or the Right to Bear Arms.

The issue has been a topic of discussion since last year when other counties in the state did the same. The resolution was brought before the Public Safety Committee last year, and has been on hold due to COVID-19.

It has been a whole year now, so it is time to make a move, County Board Chairman Tom Kautza said. It did pass through a committee and was moved to the full board so I always felt it deserves its day in front of the board.

The issue sparked some public comment at the committee meeting with people speaking on both sides of the issue. Kautza says it really just asks a question.

It would just confirm that we support the Second Amendment and the Constitution.

Shawano County Sheriff Adam Bieber has been asking for this vote to take place and says it is important not only that it passes, but who votes yes.

It reaffirms their commitment to uphold the Constitution and the oath that they took.

Bieber says to him, it does not stop with the 2nd Amendment.

I would like to see all of them vote yes on it and I would love another vote that would show support for the rest of the Bill of Rights. Nobody really knows where our representatives stand until they have to vote on something.

The vote will take place at the County Board meeting next Wednesday at 3:00pm. The meeting will take place at the County Board Room and the public is welcome to attend.

Read the rest here:
2nd Amendment To Be Voted on In Shawano County - tchdailynews.com

Remove gun sanctuary resolution

Good morning, Tivertonians.

Many may not be aware that the prior Town Council majority members Robert Coulter, Justin Katz, Nancy Driggs and Donna Cook, jammed through a resolution giving gun owners and gun users even more rights beyond the Second Amendment.Did you know they made Tiverton a gun sanctuary town?Those four people declared on behalf of the entire town, in the name of your family and every family in town, that Tiverton declares its support of the Second Amendment and opposition to the infringement of the rights to bear arms. The protection of the Constitution already exists,what additional protection did they seek?That anyone at any time is able to carry loaded guns and ammunition in our schools or anywhere in town,and that they be ableto carry as many rounds of ammunition as they please to feed those assault rifles?

The current town resolution limits funding on police department ability to confiscate weapons, while insisting Tiverton Police exercise discretion in the enforcement of laws impacting the constitutional rights of citizens under the Second Amendment.Gun users are already protected by the Second Amendment.What about the protection of the rest of us?I urge the Tiverton Town Council to make Tiverton a sanctuary for all of us, not just gun users, and remove this disgraceful designation.

Susan Scanlon,Tiverton

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OPINION/LETTER: Remove Tiverton gun sanctuary resolution - newportri.com

Followed by a round of applause by residents,the Crawford County Quorum Court passed an ordinance Tuesday securing the Second Amendment rights of the county by a 12-0 vote.

A piece of the ordinance says the county will treat any act of the Arkansas Legislature that abrogates the Second Amendment as void and unenforceable in Crawford County.

Crawford County is now the third county in Arkansas to become a "Second Amendment County." Scott County approved a similar ordinance in 2020 followed by Independence County that same year.Thesame ordinance failed when voted on in Sebastian County in June of last year.

During the February Crawford County Quorum Court meeting, a group of residentsrequested court draft a Second Amendment sanctuary ordinance. Justice Jayson Peppas chose to sponsor the measure.

The ordinance was brought to the table during the March 15 meeting.

Ordinance 2021-19 states, "Crawford County residents have a long-standing belief in the Bill of Rights of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Rights in the Arkansas Constitution."

According to the ordinance, there is a community perception that individual liberty rights, particularly the right to bear arms, are under attack.

During the February meeting, county resident Steve Whitlock referenced President Joe Bidens's call on Congress to enact stricter gun laws. These proposed laws include comprehensive background checks on all gun sales, banning some weaponsand high-capacity magazines.

"I am thrilled that the vote was unanimous and not vetoed," Peppas said. "The community initiated this and then provided great support."

There are seven sections within the ordinance that lay the groundwork for the county's position moving forward.

The first is that Crawford County is now declared a "Second Amendment County."Second, the right to bear arms is protected by the Constitution, and county officials shall uphold each and every provision of the Bill of Rights. Third, unconstitutional laws are void.

The county will treat any act of the Arkansas Legislature that abrogates the Second Amendment as void and unenforceable in Crawford County.

Fourth, the ordinance states that liberty rightsbelong to the people.

The ordinance states, "Crawford County officials and employees shall neither interpret nor construe any legislation in any manner that would deny or disparage the Bill of Rights."

The fifth section details that liberty rights shall forever remain inviolate. The section states that individual liberty rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights and the Arkansas Declaration of rights, including the right to keep and bear arms, are excepted out of the general powers of government and shall forever remain inviolate.

The sixth, says that Crawford County officials and employees shall use the county's state political subdivision police power as is necessary and constitutionally justified, and complies with the requirements of due process.

In the event that a person feels that their right to keep and bears arms has been violated, the seventh section states that they may seek redress through the civil process.

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Crawford County becomes third county in Arkansas to pass a Second Amendment rights ordinance - Van Buren Press Argus-Courier

BAD AXE Last month, the Huron County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution acknowledging its support of the Second Amendment.

While more of a symbolic action affirming the citizens of Huron County have the right to bear arms, the resolution also cautions against any future legislation at both the state and federal levels that may potentially infringe on that right.

At this months meeting, the board heard from one resident that would like to see the county take further action by specifically addressing the countys position on what are known as red flag laws.

Red flag laws are laws allowing courts to prevent people who show signs of being a danger to themselves or to others from having access to firearms (as by ordering the seizure of weapons).

Today we have legislation disguised as laws that would make our land a safer place, they call these red flag laws, said Bad Axe resident Wendy Smith, reading from a letter she sent to each Huron County Commissioner for review. These laws do absolutely nothing to address the real problem that exists, which is mental health.

In almost every case where a gun has been used to commit a homicide, the person was found to be mentally unstable, a felon committing another felony or some else that, under our current laws, has no legal way to obtain a firearm. And yet each of these still do obtain a firearm. Another law on top of the other useless laws will not make Michigan or Huron County a safer place to live.

Smith said she circulated a petition throughout the county over the last month and collected a total of 1,465 signatures from other Huron County residents that vow to protect the Second Amendment.

The Second Amendment is the only right that has been under attack for the last 20 years, the letter states. Its the only inalienable right that has been attacked without opposition. Twenty years of gun control legislation has infringed on our Second Amendment rights. It has eroded the true meaning of the rights our forefathers give us.

Smith went on to ask that commissioners pass another resolution that will allow the right of the countys law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.

Pass a resolution that clearly upholds the Second Amendment in its entirety, she said in the letter. And lastly pass a resolution that shows your solidarity with the people with whom you were elected to serve.

Smith also obtained a letter of support of her cause from Huron County Prosecuting Attorney Timothy J. Rutkowski, which she also read to commissioners.

I strongly support the U.S. Constitution and all the amendments, including the Second Amendment, Rutkowski said in his letter. We must be true to our oaths of office and stand up in support of these rights for the residents of Huron County, Michigan and the United States. We must have the stamina, the courage, the creativity even on a local level to do what it takes to resist these efforts to strip of our rights, including our rights to bear arms.

Following Smiths presentation, Chairman Sami Khoury said he received an additional six or seven pages of signatures in support of the initiative.

Commissioner John Bodis suggested the countys corporation council and Safety Commission review the resolution, prior to it being presented at the following commissioners meeting. It was then forwarded on to the Safety Commission for review.

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Commissioners hear from citizen wanting further support of Second Amendment in county | Huron County View - Browncitybanner