Commissioners and gun rights supporters after vote declaring Clermont County a Second Amendment Sanctuary County

BATAVIA, Ohio (Jan. 13, 2020) – The Clermont County Board of County Commissioners today adopted a resolution declaring its opposition to any restrictions to the Second Amendment. All three commissioners, President David Painter, Vice President Ed Humphrey and member Claire Corcoran, voted for the resolution.

“We stand as a Second Amendment Sanctuary County,” said Commissioner Painter, moments after the vote, to the applause of gun rights activists in attendance.

Here is the exact wording of the resolution:

A RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE CLERMONT COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS DECLARING THE OPPOSITION OF CLERMONT COUNTY, OHIO, TO ANY RESTRICTIONS ON 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 2nd 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 2nd 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 or affirmation, to support the Constitution of the United States, and of this state, and also an oath of office; and

WHEREAS, County Commissioner David L. Painter, County Commissioner Edwin H. Humphrey, and County Commissioner Claire B. Corcoran have all taken such oath and believe it to be binding on them morally, ethically, and legally; and

WHEREAS, the Clermont County Commissioners fully affirm their support of the rights of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms and stand firm against any law or ordinance on any level of government to remove that right from any law-abiding citizen without due process; and

WHEREAS, the Clermont County Commissioners will not authorize any County Official to expend County funds for the purpose of enforcing illegal and or unconstitutional laws or ordinances that seek to limit a law-abiding citizens right to keep and bear arms; and

WHEREAS, the Clermont County Board of Commissioners believe the best way to prevent gun violence is to address the growing mental health crisis, hold those accountable who use a political agenda to disarm law abiding citizens, and the enforcement of already existing criminal laws that aim to stop violence and not to limit the inalienable rights of law-abiding citizens; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of Clermont County Ohio derive economic benefit from lawful use of firearms, including hunting, recreation and shooting sports; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of County Commissioners of Clermont County Ohio by the authority granted the Board by the laws of the State of Ohio and the people of Clermont County, Ohio to stand and defend their rights and liberties, which are guaranteed by the United States and Ohio Constitutions, we hereby declare this Resolution to be a Second Amendment Preservation Resolution and declare Clermont County Ohio to be a “2nd Amendment Sanctuary County”; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Board does hereby pledge not to appropriate funds, resources, employees, or agencies to initiate unconstitutional seizures in Clermont County Ohio; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board demands that the state and national legislature cease and desist any further actions restricting the Second Amendment rights of citizens and instead address the real and fundamental challenges in our communities.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of County Commissioners 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 of its Committees, and that all deliberations of this Board and of its Committees, 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.

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