Gun rights: Brown County could be 'Second-Amendment sanctuary,' at least in name

GREEN BAY - A proposal to make Brown County a "Second Amendment sanctuary" survived a review by county supervisors Monday, but emerged in a much weaker form than originally proposed.

The board's Executive Committee voted 7-0 to recommend the county proclaim its intent to oppose future legislation the county deems would infringe on residents' right to keep and bear arms.

The committee also recommend the county declare itself a Second Amendment sanctuary. But members removed controversial — and possibly illegal — language that said the sheriff could refuse to enforce future gun-control laws if he deemed them unconstitutional.

David Hemery, the county's chief legal officer, said such a measure likely would have violated supervisors' oaths of office.

RELATED: Florence County, Wis., declares itself 2nd Amendment sanctuary

RELATED: Virginia counties declare themselves 'sanctuaries' for 2nd Amendment

RELATED: Evers announces red-flag bill, says he's open to mandatory gun buybacks

The vote followed two hours of sometimes passionate public comment from more than two dozen people — on both sides of the issue — with sanctuary-county supporters holding a majority. More than 50 people attended the meeting.

"We have people in government who are trying to whittle away our freedoms," said Brian Johnson, a Green Bay resident and military veteran who supports the sanctuary-county proposal. "After the erosion starts, it can't be stopped."

But others saw things differently.

"The basic notion of a sanctuary county is by nature a bad idea," said Rick Beverstein. He called the proposal "unworkable, unenforceable, divisive an un-American."

The full Count Board is slated to vote on the measure Jan. 15.

The weaker resolution was proposed by Board Chairman Patrick Moynihan Jr. It's a compromise between the wishes of board members who wanted to protect residents against what they fear will be attempts by the state or federal government to improperly limit gun-ownership rights, and those concerned that it would be improper to try to direct a sheriff, elected by the voters, to not enforce a law that might or might not be enacted in the future.

Supervisor Steve Deslauriers of Hollandtown proposed the sanctuary measure in December, saying that further tightening of gun laws threatens to take "the most-effective weapon away" from someone who might need a gun for self defense.

"What this is is a strong message to legislators to not do what Virginia is doing," said Deslauriers, a gun owner. "It's counter to the Constitution … anyone who thinks the Second Amendment is not under attack is naive."

More than 100 Virginia cities, counties and towns have recently approved sanctuary laws, in response to a promise by Gov. Ralph Northam and a number of state lawmakers to seek stricter gun laws. Proposals also have been adopted in Arizona, Colorado and a number of other states.

The resolutions are largely symbolic — local government can't order a police chief to not enforce federal and state laws — but supporters say they are important because they make a strong statement about constituents' wishes, and keep the issue in the public eye.

Gun-safety advocates say they're something else: publicity stunts.

The sanctuary proposals — in Wisconsin and elsewhere — are being made as governors and other state lawmakers push for gun laws that would require universal background checks, and to support "red flag" laws that would make it tougher for persons deemed dangerous to get guns.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers made it clear last year that he would be open to gun-law reform. He said in September that he supports so-called "red flag" legislation, and would be open to some form of gun buybacks.

Republicans in the state Legislature have not welcomed those ideas.

Brown would have been the second Wisconsin county to approve such a measure. Florence County did so in November.

USA TODAY reporter Ryan W. Miller contributed to this story.

Contact Doug Schneider at (920) 431-8333, or DSchneid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PGDougSchneider