Washington County Commissioners Support The Second Amendment

MARIETTA, OH — It was standing room only in this week's meeting of the Washington County Commissioners. A large group of Second Amendment advocates showed up to support a resolution to make Washington County a sanctuary city for those seeking the legal right to keep and bear arms. The motion to pass this resolution was unanimous. The commissioners thanked the advocates for their dedication and their work.

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President of the Washington County Commissioners Kevin Ritter prepared a statement on this matter. He stated that last year the board of commissioners was approached about a resolution reaffirming support for the Second Amendment. "While I'm a supporter of the Second Amendment, and a conceal carry permit holder, I opposed passing a resolution at that time." He said the reasoning was that we already have the federal right to keep and bear arms, which is reaffirmed in the Ohio constitution, and a local resolution would be redundant.

Ritter said that any resolution they would have passed would have been purely symbolic. "At the time we were originally asked, there was little serious discussion about limiting the Second Amendment," Ritter noted that this has changed significantly in one year. "The present occupant of the White House said repeatedly in his campaign that if elected he would sidestep the legislative process and use the Executive power of the Presidency on gun control."

Ritter cited a recent rosegarden speech by President Joe Biden. "The President indicated just what sort of a defender of the Constitution he intends to be when he stated 'No Amendment to the Constitution is absolute.' I'm left to wonder if he includes the 13th, outlawing slavery, or the 19th granting women the right to vote, along with the second."

Ritter says as Americans one of our fundamental rights from the very beginning was the right to bear arms. "As Thomas Jefferson said, 'What kind of country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that the people preserve the spirit of resistance.'"

Ritter says the reason for passing this resolution now is because there are threats to the Second Amendment at both a state and federal level. "It is because of that threat, and with a full understanding that our actions today are symbolic, that I favor this resolution." He said it's time to send a message to Columbus and Washington D.C. "The citizens of Washington County do not intend to surrender our right to bear arms responsibly."

Commissioner Charlie Schilling stated that the support for this resolution was overwhelming and impressive. He said he supported this personally and was glad the commissioners could make this statement. Commissioner James Booth said he was proud as a combat veteran that he was able to read the resolution below that the commissioners drafted themselves.

WASHINGTON COUNTY, OHIO RESOLUTION TO DECLARE SUPPORT OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT

WHEREAS, The Ohio Constitution: Article 1, Section 4 states that “The people have the right to bear arms for their defense and security”; and

WHEREAS, The Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America states “A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed”; and

WHEREAS, The Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America was ratified in 1791, and is still the Law of the Land; and

WHEREAS, Article 6 of the Constitution of the United States of America states “This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding” and

WHEREAS, Article 15, Section 7 of the Ohio Constitution states: “Every person chosen or appointed to any office under this state, before entering upon the discharge of its duties, shall take an oath of office or affirmation, to support the Constitution of the United States;

WHEREAS, County Commissioner Kevin Ritter, County Commissioner James Booth, and County Commissioner Charles Schilling have all taken such oath and are obligated to support the Constitution of the United States, including the Second Amendment; and

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Ohio does not have unlimited authority, but only the authority granted to it by the Ohio legislature;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Ohio in its effort to protect the Washington County Citizens' Second Amendment Rights, hereby affirms its support for the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution, and expresses its deep commitment to protecting the Washington County Citizens Second Amendment Rights to the extent permitted by its statutory authority, and declares this to be a Second Amendment Preservation Resolution; and

BE IF FURTHER RESOLVED, that through its passage of this Second Amendment Preservation Resolution the Board of Commissioners of Washington County, Ohio declares Washington County, Ohio to be a “Second Amendment Sanctuary County, where the constitutionally protected individual rights of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms, and of their use in the security and defense of self, family, others, and property, are supported; and;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that as a “Second Amendment Sanctuary County,” the Board of County Commissioners hereby declares its opposition to unconstitutional restrictions
on the right to bear arms; opposes any efforts to unconstitutionally restrict all such rights secured by the Bill of Rights; pledges to vocalize its support of the Second Amendment to the state and national legislatures to cease and desist any actions restricting the Second Amendment rights of Ohioans when necessary; and otherwise generally advocate for the preservation of the Second Amendment rights of the citizens of Washington County, Ohio to the extent permitted by its statutory role under Ohio law; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of County Commissioners for Washington County, Ohio hereby finds and determines that all formal actions relative to the passage of this Resolution were taken in an open meeting of this Board, and that all deliberations of this Board, if any, which resulted in formal action, were taken in meetings open to the public, in full compliance with applicable legal requirements including Section 121.22 of the Ohio Revised Code.
This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its execution.
The Board of County Commissioners of Washington County, Ohio
met in regular session on the 22nd day of April 2021

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